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Pittsburgh Pirates: Three More Potential Second-Round Picks

By Noah Wright

ST. LOUIS, MO - OCTOBER 28: Boston Red Sox General Manager Ben Cherington sits in the dugout prior to Game Five of the 2013 World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals on October 28, 2013 at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Michael Ivins/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)
ST. LOUIS, MO - OCTOBER 28: Boston Red Sox General Manager Ben Cherington sits in the dugout prior to Game Five of the 2013 World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals on October 28, 2013 at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Michael Ivins/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) /
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May 11, 2021; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates general manager Ben Cherington observes batting practice before the Pirates host the Cincinnati Reds at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
May 11, 2021; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates general manager Ben Cherington observes batting practice before the Pirates host the Cincinnati Reds at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /

Will Bednar

The Pittsburgh Pirates are familiar with the Bednars. Currently, they have the older Bednar in David pitching great out of the bullpen. However, they could add his younger brother, Will Bednar, with the 37th pick in the 2021 draft.

Bednar has pitched 49 innings to the tune of a 3.31 ERA, 3.00 FIP and a 1.04 WHIP with Mississippi State this season. Bednar has struck out 40.8% of batters faced, while keeping walks to a rate of just 6.1%. Home runs have been a bit of an issue for the right-hander though. He currently has a 1.49 HR/9 rate. However, he did not allow a single home run in 15.2 innings throughout his shortened 2020 season.

Bednar has a four-pitch mix. His four-seam fastball comes in around the 93-95 MPH range and tops out at 97 MPH. With the spin he can generate, the pitch has some riding life through the strike zone. Overall, it’s a 60-grade offering by MLB Pipeline and a 55-future grade offering by FanGraphs.

His primary breaking pitch is a slider. This is another pitch with a 60-grade on MLB Pipeline but also has a 60-grade on FanGraphs as well. He’s thrown it consistently well this year and averages out in the mid-80’s. His curveball is another plus offering, one that comes in around the upper 70 MPH range. Both FanGraphs and Pipeline see this as a 55-grade offering. His fourth and final offering is a changeup that has the potential to be a fourth average offering.

Bednar has excellent control as well. Pipeline sees his ability to hit the zone as a 55-grade tool. However, his command can get a bit spotty at times. FanGraphs gave his command a future grade of just 40.

Bednar also will need to work on his mechanics. His 6’2″, 229 pound frame gives him a starter’s build. However, the overall issues are minor. Though his potential concerns aren’t something that can’t be fixed, they should still be kept in mind.

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