Will Bednar

{{Infobox baseball biography

| name = Will Bednar

| team = San Francisco Giants

| position = Pitcher

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2000|6|13}}

| birth_place = Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.

| bats = Right

| throws = Right

| highlights = * College World Series Most Outstanding Player (2021)

}}

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

Bednar attended Mars Area High School in Mars, Pennsylvania, where he played baseball under his father, Andy.{{Cite web |last=Everett |first=Brad |date=2020-06-11 |title=Mars' Bednar family enjoying life on the diamond |url=https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/hsother/2020/06/11/mars-baseball-andy-bednar-david-bednar-padres-will-bednar-mississippi-state/stories/202006100053 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200807150142/https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/hsother/2020/06/11/mars-baseball-andy-bednar-david-bednar-padres-will-bednar-mississippi-state/stories/202006100053 |archive-date=2020-08-07 |access-date=2024-11-15 |website=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette}} He originally committed to play college baseball at Ohio State University, but later switched his commitment to Mississippi State University.{{Cite web |date=September 17, 2018 |title=Mars' Will Bednar switches commitment to play baseball at Mississippi State |url=https://tribhssn.triblive.com/mars-will-bednar-switches-commitment-to-play-baseball-at-mississippi-state/ |access-date=2024-11-15 |website=Trib HSSN}} As a sophomore in 2017, he spent a majority of the season catching, and pitched only around 15 innings.{{Cite web |last=Crouse |first=Jake |date=2021-05-17 |title=Bednar's report on little bro's stuff: 'Electric' |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/will-bednar-looks-to-join-david-in-mlb |access-date=2024-11-15 |website=MLB.com |language=en-US}} 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.{{Cite web |last=White |first=Mike |date=2018-09-16 |title=Mars baseball pitcher Will Bednar chooses Mississippi State |url=https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/highschool/2018/09/16/Mars-pitcher-Will-Bednar-Mississippi-State-WPIAL-baseball/stories/201809160215 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210610223014/https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/highschool/2018/09/16/Mars-pitcher-Will-Bednar-Mississippi-State-WPIAL-baseball/stories/201809160215 |archive-date=2021-06-10 |access-date=2024-11-15 |website=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette}} As a senior in 2019, his playing time was limited due to a shoulder issue.{{Cite web |last=White |first=Mike |date=2019-04-15 |title=Will Bednar, MLB draft prospect at Mars, deals with shoulder issue |url=https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/hsother/2019/04/15/Will-Bednar-Mars-MLB-draft-shoulder-inflammation-tendinitis-father-Andy/stories/201904150099 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210610223013/https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/hsother/2019/04/15/Will-Bednar-Mars-MLB-draft-shoulder-inflammation-tendinitis-father-Andy/stories/201904150099 |archive-date=2021-06-10 |access-date=2024-11-15 |website=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette}} 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 {{fraction|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.{{Cite web |last=Macafee |first=Greg |date=2020-06-11 |title=Former Mars pitcher Will Bednar making most of time at home after successful start at Mississippi State |url=https://triblive.com/sports/former-mars-pitcher-will-bednar-making-most-of-time-at-home-after-successful-start-at-mississippi-state/ |access-date=2024-11-15 |website=TribLIVE.com |language=en-US}} 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.{{Cite web |last=DeRosa |first=Theo |date=June 10, 2021 |title=Breaking down Mississippi State, Notre Dame by the numbers ahead of Starkville Super Regional |url=https://cdispatch.com/sports/2021-06-10/breaking-down-mississippi-state-notre-dame-by-the-numbers-ahead-of-starkville-super-regional/ |access-date=2024-11-15 |website=The Dispatch}} He was named to the Newcomer All-SEC Team.{{Cite web |last=Grotjahn |first=Jess |date=May 25, 2021 |title=SEC Baseball awards, All-SEC Teams announced |url=https://whnt.com/sports/sec-baseball-awards-all-sec-teams-announced/ |access-date=2024-11-15 |website=WHET}} 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.{{cite web |url=https://www.ncaa.com/news/baseball/article/2021-06-30/college-world-series-most-outstanding-player-award-complete-history |title=College World Series Most Outstanding Player award history, winners |website=NCAA.com |first=Wayne |last=Cavadi |date=June 30, 2021 |access-date=June 30, 2021}} For the 2021 College World Series, Bednar pitched to a 1.47 ERA over {{fraction|18|1|3}} innings.{{cite web |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/will-bednar-unhittable-en-route-to-cws-crown |title=Bednar unhittable en route to CWS crown |website=MLB.com |first=Matt |last=Kelly |date=June 30, 2021 |access-date=July 1, 2021}}

Professional career

Bednar was selected by the San Francisco Giants in the first round with the 14th overall selection of the 2021 Major League Baseball draft.{{Cite web |last=Kuwana |first=Claire |date=2021-07-11 |title=How Will Clark helped make Will Bednar's selection by San Francisco Giants extra special |url=https://www.clarionledger.com/story/sports/college/mississippi-state/2021/07/11/will-bednars-san-francisco-giants-will-clark-2021-mlb-draft-mississippi-state-baseball/7933545002/ |access-date=2024-11-15 |website=Clarion Ledger}} He signed for $3.65 million.{{cite web |last=Thompson |first=Stephen |date=July 23, 2021 |title=Mars High School Alum, No. 14 Pick Will Bednar Inks Rookie Deal with Giants |url=https://pittsburghsportsnow.com/2021/07/23/mars-high-school-alum-no-14-pick-will-bednar-inks-rookie-deal-with-giants/ |accessdate=July 23, 2021 |website=Pittsburgh Sports Now}} 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.{{Cite web |date=8 September 2021 |title=Giants' Will Bednar: Notches first promotion |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/giants-will-bednar-notches-first-promotion/ |access-date=2024-11-15 |website=CBS Sports |agency=RotoWire}} He pitched a total of seven innings for the season, striking out six while allowing one earned run.{{Cite web |last=Johnson |first=Dalton |date=13 September 2021 |title=Giants minor league review: Bednar off to strong start |url=https://www.nbcsportsbayarea.com/mlb/san-francisco-giants/giants-minor-league-review-bednar-off-to-strong-start/1163839/ |access-date=2024-11-15 |website=NBC Sports}}

Bednar opened the 2022 season ranked as San Francisco's fourth best prospect.{{Cite web |title=Giants Top Prospects |url=https://www.mlb.com/prospects/2022/giants/ |access-date=2024-11-15 |website=MLB.com}} He returned to San Jose to begin the season.{{Cite web |date=2022-04-06 |title=San Jose Giants Announce 2022 Roster |url=https://www.milb.com/san-jose/news/san-jose-giants-announce-2022-roster |access-date=2024-11-15 |website=MiLB.com |language=en}} In mid-June, he was placed on the injured list with a back injury and missed the remainder of the season.{{cite news |last1=Lockard |first1=Melissa |date=2022-07-10 |title=Giants draft preview: Will pitching be the focus again this year? |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/3410438/2022/07/10/giants-2022-draft-preview/ |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220710221628/https://theathletic.com/3410438/2022/07/10/giants-2022-draft-preview/ |archive-date=2022-07-10 |access-date=2024-11-15 |work=The Athletic}}{{cite web |date=29 June 2022 |title=Giants' Will Bednar: Placed on injured list |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/giants-will-bednar-placed-on-injured-list/ |access-date=2024-11-15 |website=CBS Sports |agency=RotoWire}} Over 12 starts for the season, he went 1–3 with a 4.19 ERA, 51 strikeouts, and 22 walks over 43 innings.{{Cite web |title=Will Bednar Stats, Age, Position, Height, Weight, Fantasy & News |url=https://www.milb.com/player/will-bednar-687218 |access-date=2024-11-15 |website=MiLB.com |language=en}} He was selected to play in the Arizona Fall League for the Scottsdale Scorpions after the season.{{Cite web |last=Callis |first=Jim |last2=Mayo |first2=Jonathan |last3=Dykstra |first3=Sam |date=2022-09-16 |title=The Arizona Fall League rosters are here -- and they're loaded |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/arizona-fall-league-rosters-2022 |access-date=2024-11-15 |website=MLB.com |language=en-US}} Bednar pitched in only four games in 2023 due to back injuries.{{cite web |date=10 April 2023 |title=Giants' Will Bednar: Opens season on shelf |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/giants-will-bednar-opens-season-on-shelf/ |access-date=2024-11-15 |website=CBS Sports |agency=RotoWire}} He was assigned to the Arizona Fall League for the second year in a row after the season.{{Cite web |last=Slusser |first=Susan |date=2023-11-03 |title=How Giants first-rounders Will Bednar, Reggie Crawford are faring in fall league |url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/sports/giants/article/giants-1st-rounders-bednar-reggie-crawford-18467161.php |access-date=2024-11-15 |website=San Francisco Chronicle |language=en}}

Personal life

Bednar's older brother, David, plays for the Pittsburgh Pirates.{{Cite web |last=Horka |first=Tyler |date=2021-05-07 |title=Mississippi State's Will Bednar has major supporter in brother David, a Pirates pitcher |url=https://www.clarionledger.com/story/sports/college/mississippi-state/2021/05/07/will-bednar-mississippi-state-baseball-david-bednar-pirates-mlb/7253675002/ |access-date=2024-11-15 |website=The Clarion-Ledger}}

References

External links

[https://hailstate.com/sports/baseball/roster/will-bednar/6345 Mississippi State Bulldogs bio]

Category:2000 births

Category:Living people

Category:Baseball pitchers

Category:Baseball players from Pittsburgh

Category:College World Series Most Outstanding Player Award winners

Category:Mississippi State Bulldogs baseball players

Category:Arizona Complex League Giants players

Category:San Jose Giants players