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Will Bednar

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Will Bednar
San Francisco Giants
Pitcher
Born: (2000-06-13) June 13, 2000 (age 24)
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Career highlights and awards

William Ross Bednar (born June 13, 2000) is an American professional baseball pitcher in the San Francisco Giants organization. He played college baseball for the Mississippi State Bulldogs.

Amateur career

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Bednar attended Mars Area High School in Mars, Pennsylvania, where he played baseball under his father, Andy.[1] He originally committed to play college baseball at Ohio State University, but later switched his commitment to Mississippi State University.[2] As a sophomore in 2017, he spent a majority of the season catching, and pitched only around 15 innings.[3] In 2018, as a junior, he switched to pitching full time and went 8–0 with a 0.64 ERA and 120 strikeouts over 66 innings.[4] As a senior in 2019, his playing time was limited due to a shoulder issue.[5] Bednar was not selected in the 2019 Major League Baseball draft, and thus enrolled at Mississippi State.

In 2020, Bednar's freshman year at Mississippi State, he pitched 15+1⁄3 innings, striking out 23 and compiling a 1.76 ERA before the remainder of the season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[6] As a sophomore in 2021, he moved into the starting rotation, going 7–1 with a 3.17 ERA and 109 strikeouts over 15 games (12 starts) for the regular season.[7] He was named to the Newcomer All-SEC Team.[8] During game three of the 2021 College World Series, Bednar pitched six innings in which he allowed three walks and zero hits while striking out four, subsequently being named the College World Series Most Outstanding Player as Mississippi State won their first ever College World Series.[9] For the 2021 College World Series, Bednar pitched to a 1.47 ERA over 18+1⁄3 innings.[10]

Professional career

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Bednar was selected by the San Francisco Giants in the first round with the 14th overall selection of the 2021 Major League Baseball draft.[11] He signed for $3.65 million.[12] He made his professional debut with the Rookie-level Arizona Complex League Giants, and was promoted to the San Jose Giants of the Low-A West after two appearances.[13] He pitched a total of seven innings for the season, striking out six while allowing one earned run.[14]

Bednar opened the 2022 season ranked as San Francisco's fourth best prospect.[15] He returned to San Jose to begin the season.[16] In mid-June, he was placed on the injured list with a back injury and missed the remainder of the season.[17][18] Over 12 starts for the season, he went 1–3 with a 4.19 ERA, 51 strikeouts, and 22 walks over 43 innings.[19] He was selected to play in the Arizona Fall League for the Scottsdale Scorpions after the season.[20] Bednar pitched in only four games in 2023 due to back injuries.[21] He was assigned to the Arizona Fall League for the second year in a row after the season.[22]

Personal life

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Bednar's older brother, David, plays for the Pittsburgh Pirates.[23]

References

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  1. ^ Everett, Brad (June 11, 2020). "Mars' Bednar family enjoying life on the diamond". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Archived from the original on August 7, 2020. Retrieved November 15, 2024.
  2. ^ "Mars' Will Bednar switches commitment to play baseball at Mississippi State". Trib HSSN. September 17, 2018. Retrieved November 15, 2024.
  3. ^ Crouse, Jake (May 17, 2021). "Bednar's report on little bro's stuff: 'Electric'". MLB.com. Retrieved November 15, 2024.
  4. ^ White, Mike (September 16, 2018). "Mars baseball pitcher Will Bednar chooses Mississippi State". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Archived from the original on June 10, 2021. Retrieved November 15, 2024.
  5. ^ White, Mike (April 15, 2019). "Will Bednar, MLB draft prospect at Mars, deals with shoulder issue". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Archived from the original on June 10, 2021. Retrieved November 15, 2024.
  6. ^ Macafee, Greg (June 11, 2020). "Former Mars pitcher Will Bednar making most of time at home after successful start at Mississippi State". TribLIVE.com. Retrieved November 15, 2024.
  7. ^ DeRosa, Theo (June 10, 2021). "Breaking down Mississippi State, Notre Dame by the numbers ahead of Starkville Super Regional". The Dispatch. Retrieved November 15, 2024.
  8. ^ Grotjahn, Jess (May 25, 2021). "SEC Baseball awards, All-SEC Teams announced". WHET. Retrieved November 15, 2024.
  9. ^ Cavadi, Wayne (June 30, 2021). "College World Series Most Outstanding Player award history, winners". NCAA.com. Retrieved June 30, 2021.
  10. ^ Kelly, Matt (June 30, 2021). "Bednar unhittable en route to CWS crown". MLB.com. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
  11. ^ Kuwana, Claire (July 11, 2021). "How Will Clark helped make Will Bednar's selection by San Francisco Giants extra special". Clarion Ledger. Retrieved November 15, 2024.
  12. ^ Thompson, Stephen (July 23, 2021). "Mars High School Alum, No. 14 Pick Will Bednar Inks Rookie Deal with Giants". Pittsburgh Sports Now. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
  13. ^ "Giants' Will Bednar: Notches first promotion". CBS Sports. RotoWire. September 8, 2021. Retrieved November 15, 2024.
  14. ^ Johnson, Dalton (September 13, 2021). "Giants minor league review: Bednar off to strong start". NBC Sports. Retrieved November 15, 2024.
  15. ^ "Giants Top Prospects". MLB.com. Retrieved November 15, 2024.
  16. ^ "San Jose Giants Announce 2022 Roster". MiLB.com. April 6, 2022. Retrieved November 15, 2024.
  17. ^ Lockard, Melissa (July 10, 2022). "Giants draft preview: Will pitching be the focus again this year?". The Athletic. Archived from the original on July 10, 2022. Retrieved November 15, 2024.
  18. ^ "Giants' Will Bednar: Placed on injured list". CBS Sports. RotoWire. June 29, 2022. Retrieved November 15, 2024.
  19. ^ "Will Bednar Stats, Age, Position, Height, Weight, Fantasy & News". MiLB.com. Retrieved November 15, 2024.
  20. ^ Callis, Jim; Mayo, Jonathan; Dykstra, Sam (September 16, 2022). "The Arizona Fall League rosters are here -- and they're loaded". MLB.com. Retrieved November 15, 2024.
  21. ^ "Giants' Will Bednar: Opens season on shelf". CBS Sports. RotoWire. April 10, 2023. Retrieved November 15, 2024.
  22. ^ Slusser, Susan (November 3, 2023). "How Giants first-rounders Will Bednar, Reggie Crawford are faring in fall league". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved November 15, 2024.
  23. ^ Horka, Tyler (May 7, 2021). "Mississippi State's Will Bednar has major supporter in brother David, a Pirates pitcher". The Clarion-Ledger. Retrieved November 15, 2024.
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