Yinzer USA: David Bednar Strong WBC A Sign of Things to Come
Renegade may not have been blaring through LoanDepot Park when Team USA reliever David Bednar entered the World Baseball Classic Championship game on Tuesday, but it was a big moment for Team USA. Bednar was staring down some of the best left-handed hitters in the Japan lineup, including MLB sensation Shohei Ohtani. Bednar showed the world what he has been showing Pittsburgh for the last two seasons, facing just three batters, with the lone hit being an Ohtani infield single.
Although his team didn't win the WBC, he showed the National stage what he has been showing Pittsburgh each of the last two seasons, that he is one of the most dominant relievers in the game right now. Bednar is once again slated to be the Pirates closer in 2023, although Manager Derek Shelton won't use that term, and will look to perform in similar big situations for the Pirates. This glimpse of Bednar in the WBC has been a positive sign for a Pirates bullpen that looks to be one of the strongest groups on the team. Today, we look at Bednar's WBC Tournament run and how it will help set him up for success in 2023.
Starting Out in Bradenton
When David Bednar reported to camp with the rest of the Pirates pitchers and catchers on February 13th, he entered as one the Pirates wanted to watch. He just finished his first full season as the Pirates closer and dealt with some injury issues at the end of the year that the Pirates were hoping he could bounce back from. Despite the injuries, Bednar still put together a strong season going 3-4 with a 2.61 ERA while converting 19 of his 23 save opportunities over 51.2 innings of work. His velocity was back in the mid to upper 90's, where it has been throughout his Pirates career, and he looked sharp through his first few bullpen sessions of the year.
He made his Spring Training debut on February 25th in a game against the Toronto Blue Jays, and things didn't go the way he had hoped. He entered in the fourth inning and after walking the leadoff man, he gave up a home run to Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Two batters later, he gave up another solo home run before striking out the final batter of the inning. Bednar allowed the three runs on two hits, both home runs, while walking one and striking out one. It was a rough start for the right-hander, but he wouldn't let that effect him as he came back strong in his final two outings. He did not allow another hit in his final two innings, and the only base runner he allowed came via a walk in his second outing. When he left for the WBC, Bednar was sitting with a 9.00 ERA, but was looking strong.
He was pounding the strikezone, throwing 62% of his pitches for strikes and, aside from the home run ball, had looked much like he did for the Pirates in 2022. His fastball was hitting between 93-98 miles per hour and he was just as unhittable, with an opponent batting average of .182. The one red flag for Bednar was his efficiency as he averaged 15 pitcher per appearance in those three games. His spring high came in his second appearance when he threw 22 pitches against the Baltimore Orioles on February 28th. He headed into the WBC looking to continue his progression and work on getting ready to close games for the Pirates in 2023.
First Appearance: USA vs. Great Britain
It didn't take long for Bednar to make his WBC debut as he came in for the top of the ninth against Great Britain in Team USA's first game. He was given a 6-2 lead and opened up the tournament against Pirates teammate Chavez Young. He got ahead 1-2 and finished off his Pirates counterpart with ease, throwing his fastball low and in to get the out. He would then allow a one-out single before falling behind the next batter 2-1. But, as Bednar has done, he goes back to his fastball and came back to get his second strikeout of the game to set up the final out. He would face D'Shawn Knowles of the Los Angeles Angels organization and made quick work of the final batter, needing four pitches to end the game and give Team USA their first victory of the tournament.
Bednar was much more efficient in his first WBC outing, throwing no more than five pitches to any batter. He totaled 18 pitches for the inning, and most importantly pounded the strikezone. He threw just five balls in the inning, and threw 72% of their pitches for strikes. It was a classic David Bednar outing to start the tournament and showed that he was ready for the world stage.
Game 2: USA vs. Columbia
Bednar would watch from the bullpen for the USA's games against Canada and Mexico, but returned to the mound in Pool C play against Columbia. He began his outing the same way he did his first appearance of the WBC, striking out Boston Red Sox catcher Jorge Alvaro on four pitches. He would fall behind 1-0, but battled back using the top of the strikezone to his advantage and got Alfaro on a high fastball. He then had his shortest at-bats of the tournament when he got Minnesota Twins infielder Reynaldo Rodriguez to ground out on one pitch for the second out. He would finish his first 1-2-3 inning of the tournament by getting Meibrys Viloria to pop out on three pitches to end the inning.
It was Bednar's most efficient outing of the tournament to that point, as he needed just eight pitches to get through the inning. Of those eight pitches, six of those were strikes and Bednar was attacking the top of the zone. He mixed in both his fastball and his slider throughout the appearance and gained the trust of Team USA Manager Mark DeRosa.
Game Three: USA vs. Venezuela
Bednar's third outing of the World Baseball Classic started out much like his other two. He started the inning by getting a flyout from Luis Rengifo and followed that with a strikeout of the Baltimore Orioles Anthony Santander. However, he would be charged with his first run of the WBC after falling behind Miami Marlins Luis Arraez 2-1. He then tried to get a fastball in the upper part of the zone, but Arraez lifted the ball down the right field line for a solo home run that made it a 7-5 Venezuela lead. However, Bednar stopped the inning there as he got Kansas City Royals Catcher Salvador Perez to lineout to end the inning. It was the first run allowed by Bednar in the WBC, and brought his ERA to 3.00.
Bednar didn't have the command that he had in his other WBC appearances, as he fell behind against two of his four batters faced. He was missing in the upper part of the zone and it caused him to have to bring some of his pitches down over the plate. Bednar would head back to the bullpen and continue to work on his command for the next appearance.
Game Four: USA vs. Japan
That leads us to Bednar's appearance last night as he entered the WBC Championship in the bottom of the 7th with team Japan leading 3-1. He was tasked with keeping the two, three, and four hitters from extending the lead. He began the inning against Kensuke Kondoh and would battle across a six-pitch at-bat. After falling behind 1-0, Bednar would attack the bottom of the zone and got a swing and a miss followed by two foul balls. He would crowd Kondoh inside and got the pop out he needed to end the inning. Then came Shohei Ohtani, and Bednar would fall behind 2-0 before working a full count. He would allow an infield single that Trea Turner made a Herculean effort to try and stop but Japan would get a runner on with one out. However, the damage would end there as Bednar got Masataka Yoshida to ground into an inning ending double play.
This is exactly the type of inning you want to see from Bednar right before the season gets underway. He came in to face the best hitters that Japan had to offer and got the job done allowing just the one base runner. He needed 17 pitches to get through the outing, and did fall behind on all three hitters. However, he worked back in all three and got the big out when he needed it. His team got him a run in the top of the eighth to make it 3-2, but it was a strong ending to the WBC for Bednar.
Moving Forward
Now that the WBC is in the rearview mirror, Bednar will return to his Pirates teammates today. While we most likely won't see Bednar in a Pirates spring training game until later in the week, it will be good to have him back in camp. He is set to headline what is becoming a strength for the Pirates in 2023 and the Pirates are going to need him in top shape. The fastball is hitting in the mid to upper 90's as it has in year's past and Bednar is showing the ability to get both lefties and righties out consistently. He has a 2.40 ERA since joining the Pirates back in 2021 and has not had an ERA higher than his 2.61 mark last season. While a strong backend guy isn't as important as a strong starter, having a guy like Bednar back there will be key in helping the Pirates close games out this season.
He has been one of the best closers in baseball over the last two seasons, and shows no signs of slowing down yet. The World Baseball Classic just further proved that as Bednar prepares for the 2023 season as Pirates closer.
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