A thrill for Will
ADAMS TWP — So what do you do the day after you're selected in the first round of the Major League Baseball Draft?
Go golfing.
Mars graduate and Mississippi State right-hander Will Bednar — chosen No. 14 overall by the San Francisco Giants Sunday night — joined older brother David, a relief pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates, for a round of golf Monday at Pittsburgh North.
“They're only playing nine holes, but it will probably take them a while,” their father, retired Mars High School baseball coach Andy Bednar, said, laughing. “Neither one of them is very good.”
When it comes to baseball?
Different story.
David picked up his second career major league win Sunday afternoon in New York. Will became a first-round draft pick Sunday night.
“What's happened to our family in the past six months ... it couldn't have been scripted any better,” their father said. “David gets traded to the Pirates Jan. 20, makes the team out of spring training and now pitches in leverage situations in the bullpen.
“Will pitches the title-winning game in the College World Series and gets picked in the first round of the draft ... I know I use this word over and over, but it's so surreal. It's been unbelievable.“David got to the house (after the Pirates flew back from New York) five minutes after Will was picked. The two just hugged each other. It was a very emotional moment for both guys,” Bednar added.Will said he saw the car pull up, ran outside and met his brother.“We hugged. We were both pretty pumped,” he said. “He's been such a big asset for me. I've gone to him for advice so many times and I know I'll continue to do that.“I mean, he's been through all this.”With the uncertainty of how the MLB Draft would play out, Andy Bednar said the family was hesitant to plan any type of extravagant party.“We were home last night and had maybe 15 or 20 people over, mainly Will's uncles, aunts, extended family,” he said. “We told people that if they saw Will's name come on the (TV) screen, feel free to come on over.“After he was drafted, another 60 people or so came over. It was fun, so hard to describe. You see your son's name come up as a first-round draft pick, I mean, I can't describe how I felt.”Will said things were “pretty quiet” in the days leading up to the draft.“I spent the bulk of the day Sunday on the phone with my agent, learning how all of this may play out,” Will said.Bednar said Will was “on the cusp of becoming a first-rounder before the College World Series. His performance there put him in there.“Teams like to see how a draft prospect performs on the big stage, in the biggest games. What Will did (in the CWS) put him over the top.”In his three CWS starts, Bednar allowed three earned runs in 18.1 innings pitched, allowing five hits while striking out 26 and walking six.Baseball America had Bednar rated No. 38 on the draft board prior to the CWS, No. 18 afterward.Bednar had 139 strikeouts in 92.1 innings pitched this season. He was 9-1 this year, averaging 13.7 strikeouts per nine innings with a 0.99 WHIP in his two years at Mississippi State.Bednar became the first pitcher selected by the Giants in the first round since 2015, when they selected Phil Bickford.“Sunday night, our advisor said to probably expect a call from a team somewhere after the sixth pick,” Andy Bednar said.“The Angels, who picked ninth, called Will first. They talked briefly, then the Angels chose another pitcher. The Giants called shortly after that.“They told him he was gonna be their guy, then the pick came through,” he added.Only two years ago, Will did not pitch during his senior season at Mars due to bicep tendonitis.“I feel truly blessed right now,” Will said. “At the same time, I put a lot of hard work into this. I feel like I've earned it.”He added that his agent is handling the contract, but anticipates no problem there. He expects to fly to San Francisco sometime in the next few days.“There will be a press conference, I'm sure. All that stuff is being worked on,” Will said. “I'm really excited. The Giants are a great organization and they're doing good things with their pitchers.“Their spring training site is Scottsdale, Ariz., their Double-A team is in Richmond, Va. ... a lot of cool places.”Andy Bednar said the Giants may hold a press conference with Will prior to their first home game after the All-Star break.That would be July 23 — against the Pirates, meaning Will's brother would be there.“That'd be the perfect topper for all of this,” Andy Bednar said.
