Giants Excited By Righthander Will Bednar’s Upside

En route to winning Most Outstanding Player honors for Mississippi State at the College World Series in June, righthander Will Bednar struck out 26 hitters and allowed a mere five hits in three starts that spanned 18.1 innings.

Even without that glittering performance in Omaha, the Giants still very well might have taken the 21-year-old with the 14th overall pick in 2021 draft—but the CWS enhanced Bednar’s credentials.

“I think it just really capped a year in which he just trended up the entire season,” Giants farm director Kyle Haines said. “I think that was kind of the icing on the cake for him.”

That icing included a six-inning start in which Bednar struck out 15 Texas hitters and allowed one hit, followed by six innings of no-hit ball in the CWS-winning 9-0 decision against Vanderbilt. That start came on three days of rest.

Haines said Bednar’s work at TD Ameritrade Park displayed the “extreme competitive spirit that he has.”

Of course, the Giants didn’t draft Bednar in the first round simply because of his competitiveness.

“He’s such a good strike-thrower with especially a plus fastball, and a really plus-plus slider. He’s got a usable changeup,” Haines said. “He’s got the ability to miss bats with multiple pitches.”

Listed at 6-foot-2, 229 pounds, Bednar struck out 139 batters and walked 26 in 92.1 innings for the Bulldogs in 2021.

Haines pointed to another asset for Bednar.

“You can’t ignore the fact that he’s got major league bloodlines with his brother,” Haines said.

Will’s older brother David blossomed as a reliever with the Pirates in 2021.

Will Bednar allowed one earned run in seven innings over four minor league appearances in 2021. The first two of those appearances came in the Arizona Complex League, the last two with Low-A San Jose. Haines said Bednar likely will begin the 2022 season with San Jose.

As for Bednar’s long-term outlook, Haines said he “has a chance to hopefully anchor a big spot in the rotation for years to come.”