Pirates reliever, Mars grad David Bednar’s minor-league stint off to ‘very positive’ start, Shelton says
David Bednar’s minor-league foray has been a fruitful one so far, according to Pittsburgh Pirates manager Derek Shelton during media availability before Monday’s game against St. Louis.
Bednar, a two-time National League All-Star closer and Mars graduate, was optioned last week to the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians after a tough start to the 2025 season.
Bednar threw a 1-2-3 frame Sunday against the Iowa Cubs, the Chicago Cubs’ affiliate. He pitched the fifth inning for the Indians, needing 18 pitches to fan Jonathon Long, get Dixon Machado to ground out and have Reese McGuire — the Pirates No. 1 draft pick in 2013 — fly out to left field.
“Everything was fine,” Shelton said. “I mean, I think he threw, what, 14 pitches? Sixteen pitches? Something like that. Yeah, very, very positive from everything I got this morning.”
Shelton said “pitch usage” is the No. 1 priority for Bednar, who posted a 5.77 ERA in 62 appearances last season.
“Location of pitches, and some of that can go to be mechanical — just making sure that he stays consistent with his delivery, which will lead to better location of the pitches,” Shelton said.
Figuring out how to better use Bednar’s three-pitch arsenal is also an area to work on.
“I think they play in combination,” Shelton said. “When we’ve seen him at his best, all three have worked in combination of each other, so it’s not just exclusively the fastball. We know the fastball plays in certain areas, but it’s kind of the chicken and the egg.
“Does it play in those areas because the curveball works off a different tunnel or the split plays a different way? ... I think that’s why it’s important that all three are working kind of in unison.”
