Midseason Update: After a starring role in the 2021 College World Series, Bednar has never quite recaptured the same electricity as a professional. He now works with a low-90s fastball and a potentially plus slider that serves as his main weapon. Optimistic scouts see a back-end starter while others see a pure reliever who makes his money with the slider and a fastball that could see velocity gains if he were to air it out for an inning or two at a time.
Track Record: Bednar, whose brother David is a reliever with the Pirates, got his moment in the sun in June, when Mississippi State won the College World Series. Bednar pitched six hitless innings in the clincher over Vanderbilt and was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player. The Giants drafted him with their first-round selection and signed him for $3,647,500. Although he didn't pitch in the series, Bednar added a second championship ring when his San Jose club won the Low-A West title.
Scouting Report: Bednar makes his bones on an outstanding three-pitch mix fronted by a dynamic fastball-slider combination. His fastball typically sits around 92-94 mph but has touched as high as 97 and plays well when thrown up in the strike zone. Bednar's mid-80s slider shows excellent downer action and is his primary weapon to get swings and misses. He rounds out the mix with a changeup that comes in around the mid 80s and shows armside run at its best. Bednar used the changeup sparingly in college and will have to rely on it more in pro ball in order to establish himself as a potential rotation option. He projects to have average control and issued just one walk in seven innings as a pro.
The Future: After getting his feet wet in 2021, Bednar will get his first full test as a pro in 2022, likely at High-A Eugene. He has a ceiling of a mid-rotation starter.
Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60. Slider: 60. Changeup: 50. Control: 50.
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