David Bednar

David Bednar

30-Year-Old PitcherRP
Pittsburgh Pirates
2025 Fantasy Outlook
What a difference one year makes. After recording 39 saves and making his second straight All-Star team in 2023, Bednar struggled to a 5.77 ERA and 1.42 WHIP last season. The right-hander had a rough start to the campaign, allowing 14 earned runs in his first 13 outings, nearly matching his full-season total the year prior. Perhaps he wasn't fully recovered from the lat injury he suffered during spring training, but Bednar eventually settled in, pitching lights out for about a month before succumbing to a strained left oblique in June. Bednar returned a few weeks later, but so did his struggles. By the end of August, Pittsburgh removed him from closing duties and he never regained the role, pitching in low-leverage scenarios for the rest of the season. Pirates GM Ben Cherington recently indicated Bednar could reclaim the closer role in 2025, especially if he looks more like his former self this spring. If health permits, he's a prime CL2 target with CL1 upside. Read Past Outlooks
RANKS
From Preseason
$Signed a one-year, $4.51 million contract with the Pirates in January of 2024.
Takes eighth loss
PPittsburgh Pirates
September 19, 2024
Bednar (3-8) was charged with a blown save and took the loss against the Cardinals on Wednesday, allowing three runs (two earned) on one hit and one walk over one-third of an inning.
ANALYSIS
Bednar entered the contest with the score tied in the bottom of the seventh and proceeded to give up a leadoff homer to Masyn Winn on a hanging curveball. The right-handed reliever would then manage to retire just one of the next three batters he faced before being relieved by Jalen Beeks, who didn't fare any better. It marked the seventh blown save of the season for Bednar, with his previous one coming back on Aug. 28, just before he was removed from the closer role. He's now allowed at least one run in three of his last six appearances and carries a 5.14 ERA in the month of September to go along with a dreadful 6:8 K:BB.
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Pitching Stats
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2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2024 MLB Game Log
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Pitching Appearances Breakdown
Average Pitch Count
17
Last 10 Games
17
Last 5 Games
15
How many pitches does David Bednar generally throw?
 
1-10
 
11-20
 
21-30
 
31-40
 
41-50
 
51-60
 
61-70
 
71-80
 
81-90
 
91-100
 
101-110
 
111-120
 
121+
 
1-10
 
11-20
 
21-30
 
31-40
 
41-50
 
51-60
 
61-70
 
71-80
 
81-90
 
91-100
 
101-110
 
111-120
 
121+
 
1-10
 
11-20
 
21-30
 
31-40
 
41-50
 
51-60
 
61-70
 
71-80
 
81-90
 
91-100
 
101-110
 
111-120
 
121+
What part of the game does David Bednar generally pitch?
 
 
 
1st
 
 
 
2nd
 
 
 
3rd
 
 
 
4th
 
 
 
5th
 
 
 
6th
 
 
 
7th
 
 
 
8th
 
 
 
9th
 
Extra
 
 
 
1st
 
 
 
2nd
 
 
 
3rd
 
 
 
4th
 
 
 
5th
 
 
 
6th
 
 
 
7th
 
 
 
8th
 
 
 
9th
 
Extra
 
 
 
1st
 
 
 
2nd
 
 
 
3rd
 
 
 
4th
 
 
 
5th
 
 
 
6th
 
 
 
7th
 
 
 
8th
 
 
 
9th
 
Extra
% Games Reaching Innings Threshold
% Games By Number of Innings Pitched
Left/Right Pitching Splits
Since 2022
 
 
-11%
BAA vs LHP
2024
 
 
-17%
BAA vs LHP
2023
 
 
-5%
BAA vs RHP
2022
 
 
-21%
BAA vs LHP
BAA Batters K BB H 2B 3B HR
Since 2022vs Left .209 346 95 36 63 16 1 9
Since 2022vs Right .235 402 112 29 86 19 1 7
2024vs Left .214 122 26 15 22 7 0 7
2024vs Right .258 139 32 13 32 5 0 2
2023vs Left .220 135 39 12 26 5 1 1
2023vs Right .209 142 41 9 27 7 1 2
2022vs Left .188 89 30 9 15 4 0 1
2022vs Right .239 121 39 7 27 7 0 3
More Splits View More Split Stats
Home/Away Pitching Splits
Since 2022
 
 
-4%
ERA on Road
2024
 
 
-14%
ERA at Home
2023
 
 
-46%
ERA on Road
2022
 
 
-22%
ERA at Home
ERA WHIP IP W L SV K/9 BB/9 HR/9
Since 2022Home 3.48 1.17 95.2 5 6 45 10.3 2.9 0.8
Since 2022Away 3.33 1.26 81.0 4 9 36 10.9 3.8 0.9
2024Home 5.40 1.38 33.1 2 3 14 8.4 4.1 0.8
2024Away 6.29 1.48 24.1 1 5 9 10.0 4.8 2.2
2023Home 2.57 1.11 35.0 1 1 22 11.3 2.1 0.5
2023Away 1.39 1.08 32.1 2 2 17 10.0 3.6 0.3
2022Home 2.30 0.99 27.1 2 2 9 11.2 2.6 1.0
2022Away 2.96 1.27 24.1 1 2 10 12.9 3.0 0.4
More Splits View More Split Stats
Stat Review
How does David Bednar compare to other relievers?
This section compares his stats with all relief pitcher seasons from the previous three seasons (minimum 30 innings)*. The bar represents the player's percentile rank. For example, if the bar is halfway across, then the player falls into the 50th percentile for that stat and it would be considered average.

* Exit Velocity, Barrels/BBE %, Balls Hit 95+ MPH %, and Spin Rate are benchmarked against 2019 data (min 30 IP). See here for more exit velocity/barrels stats plus an explanation of current limitations with that data set.
  • K/BB
    Strikeout to walk ratio.
  • K/9
    Average strikeouts per nine innings.
  • BB/9
    Average walks per nine innings.
  • HR/9
    Average home runs allowed per nine innings.
  • Fastball
    Average fastball velocity.
  • ERA
    Earned run average. The average earned runs allowed per nine innings.
  • WHIP
    Walks plus hits per inning pitched.
  • BABIP
    Batting average on balls in play. Measures how many balls in play against a pitcher go for hits.
  • GB/FB
    Groundball to flyball ratio. The higher the number, the more likely a pitcher is to induce groundballs.
  • Left On Base
    The percentage of base runners that a pitcher strands on base over the course of a season.
  • Exit Velocity
    The speed of the baseball as it comes off the bat, immediately after a batter makes contact.
  • Barrels/BBE
    The percentage of batted ball events resulting in a Barrel. A Barrel is a batted ball with similar exit velocity and launch angle to past ones that led to a minimum .500 batting average and 1.500 slugging percentage.
  • Spin Rate
    Spin Rate is the rate of spin on a baseball after it is released. It is measured in revolutions per minute (rpm).
  • Balls Hit 95+ MPH
    The percentage of batted balls hit that met or exceeded the 95 MPH threshold.
  • Swinging Strike
    The percentage of pitches that result in a swing and a miss.
K/BB
2.07
 
K/9
9.1
 
BB/9
4.4
 
HR/9
1.4
 
Fastball
97.3 mph
 
ERA
5.77
 
WHIP
1.42
 
BABIP
.301
 
GB/FB
0.87
 
Left On Base
60.5%
 
Exit Velocity
82.4 mph
 
Barrels/BBE
4.5%
 
Spin Rate
2280 rpm
 
Balls Hit 95+ MPH
21.3%
 
Swinging Strike
13.4%
 
Prospect Rankings History
Advanced Pitching Stats
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Defensive Stats
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Past Fantasy Outlooks
2024
2023
2022
2021
Bednar established career-highs across multiple categories last season, including games played (66), innings pitched (67.1), ERA (2.00) and strikeouts (80). He more than doubled his previous career-high with 39 saves (T-2nd in the majors) and made his second straight All-Star team. Bednar was also top 8 among qualified relievers in both WPA (3.51) and gmLI (1.87). Perhaps most importantly, he stayed healthy all season. The combination of these factors should pay off for Bednar as his arbitration window begins and the Pirates become more competitive in the National League. Bednar's 83% team save share was 3rd-highest among closers last season and he enters 2024 with very high security due to the lack of competition within his own bullpen. His consistency from year to year makes him a bonafide top 10 closer with the ceiling to be top 5. The only thing holding him back is his strikeout and walk rates are above average, not quite elite.
When healthy, Bednar is one of the most secure closers in the league, as he has no competition for the role in Pittsburgh. However, just how long will he be pitching for the Pirates? With Bednar's arbitration window approaching, beginning in 2024, it will be interesting to see whether the rebuilding and typically cost-conscious team elects to trade the 28-year-old, or builds their bullpen around him. Bednar got off to a phenomenal start in 2022 and was one of the most dominant relievers in the league for two-and-half months. He mixed his 3 pitches successfully, with each producing a 30% whiff rate or higher. Bednar complements his 96.5 mph fastball with an excellent curve and a split-finger change that he threw primarily against left-handed hitters. Unfortunately, Bednar dealt with back issues for much of 2022, which eventually required an IL stint for nearly two months. As such, there's some risk in drafting him, especially since closing is no guarantee if he gets traded.
Bednar's rookie season was stellar overall, but he really flashed his upside after the All-Star break, posting a miniscule 1.05 ERA, 0.78 WHIP and 35:7 K:BB over 25.2 innings. After allowing five home runs over the first two-and-a-half months of the season, the Pittsburgh native did not permit another long ball after June 16, a span of 35.2 innings. Armed with a 97-mph fastball, devastating curve and changeup - all of which held batters to a .204 average or below - Bednar impressed with a 16.9% SwStr% (T6th among qualified relievers), 32.5% strikeout rate (94th percentile) and 24.5% K-BB% (16th among qualified relievers). The 27-year-old finished the season with a 2.23 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, three wins, three saves and 13 holds over 61 appearances. Bednar should receive a good share of the Pirates' save opportunities, but will likely be deployed in the highest-leverage moments instead of closing exclusively.
It was easy to overlook Bednar in the Pirates' return for Joe Musgrove; he was a 35th-round pick in 2016 and struggled to a 6.75 ERA in his first 17.1 major-league innings with San Diego from 2019-20. The 26-year-old showed up to camp with his new team in 2021 and began opening eyes in the Grapefruit League, ultimately finishing with 18 strikeouts and only one walk allowed in 8.2 scoreless spring innings. The Pirates informed Bednar after his March 29 outing that he'd made the team (even with options remaining), and with his velocity ticking up in exhibition play all the way to 99 mph, it's now rather easy to draw the line to Bednar eventually being in the ninth inning for Pittsburgh. The Pirates' bullpen is completely unsettled, and if Bednar's spring dominance carries over into the regular season, he could separate from the pack quickly.
More Fantasy News
Shaky in save situation
PPittsburgh Pirates
September 12, 2024
Bednar allowed one unearned run on two hits while striking out two across two-thirds of an inning Wednesday against the Marlins.
ANALYSIS
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Throws clean ninth inning
PPittsburgh Pirates
September 4, 2024
Bednar struck out one and didn't allow a baserunner in the ninth inning Tuesday against the Cubs.
ANALYSIS
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Loses hold on closer spot
PPittsburgh Pirates
August 30, 2024
Manager Derek Shelton said Friday that Bednar will be temporarily removed from the closer role and pitch in lower-leverage situations, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.
ANALYSIS
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Disastrous second half continues
PPittsburgh Pirates
August 29, 2024
Bednar (3-7) was charged with the loss and a blown save after he allowed five earned runs on three hits and two walks across 0.2 innings Wednesday against the Cubs.
ANALYSIS
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Earns 23rd save
PPittsburgh Pirates
August 23, 2024
Bednar earned the save against the Reds on Friday, allowing one hit and one walk while striking out one over a scoreless ninth inning.
ANALYSIS
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Latest Fantasy Rumors
Option to close in 2025
PPittsburgh Pirates
October 8, 2024
Pirates GM Ben Cherington said Wednesday that Bednar could reclaim the closer role in 2025, reports Alex Stumpf of MLB.com.
ANALYSIS
The right-hander had a rough start to the campaign with 14 earned runs given up in his first 13 outings, which nearly matched his full-season total of 15 earned runs allowed in 2023. Bednar never fully got on track in 2024 and finished with a 5.77 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 58:28 K:BB across 57.2 innings while converting 23 of 30 save chances. Given the 29-year-old's 2.25 ERA and 61 saves from 2021 to 2023, Bednar should get another chance to close in 2025 if he looks more like his former self during spring training.
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