Perrotto: David Bednar Ready for Whatever Comes His Way

It was a lost weekend for the Pittsburgh Pirates.

The Cleveland Guardians swept the Pirates in a three-game series at PNC Park. The losses dropped the Pirates to 8-15, giving them the fourth-worst record in the major leagues after the Colorado Rockies (4-17), Chicago White Sox (5-16) and Minnesota Twins (7-15).

However, there was one glimmer of hope. Two-time All-Star reliever David Bednar returned from a stint with Triple-A Indianapolis and had his first scoreless outing in the major leagues this season.

Bednar pitched a scoreless ninth inning on Saturday in a 3-0 loss, hours after being recalled from Indianapolis. He gave up two hits but also struck out two.

Bednar received a mixed reaction from the sellout crowd as he walked in from the bullpen to his entrance song, “Renegade” by Styx. It certainly wasn’t the thunderous cheers he received when he was an All-Star closer in 2022 and 2023.

However, the Mars High School graduate isn’t concerned about winning back fans or his role in the Pirates’ bullpen. He is glad to be back in the big leagues following five one-inning scoreless appearances with Indianapolis, giving up only one hit with seven strikeouts and no walks.

“It’s great to be back with the guys,” Bednar said.

In a perfect world, Bednar would regain the form he showed in 2023 when his 39 saves tied for the National League lead. Bednar had 23 saves last season, but his ERA was 5.77 in 62 games following three years of posting an aggregate 2.25 mark.

“I think long-term, I hope he gets back to that,” Pirates manager Derek Shelton said. “Short-term, we’re going to take it day by day. He basically became that guy by just grinding and pitching and doing those things, and that’s all we’re really asking him to do.”

Bednar has always kept his career in perspective. He was not highly recruited as a high school player, and the San Diego Padres selected him in the 35th round of the 2016 amateur draft from Lafayette.

Thus, Bednar doesn’t feel entitled to be returned to the closer’s role unless he earns it.

“I’m just going to be ready whenever the phone rings,” he said.

Bednar allowed runs in all three appearances – taking the loss in two — with the Pirates to start the season before being optioned to Indianapolis on March 31. Bednar was surprised by the demotion and disagreed with it.

However, the 30-year-old knew he had no choice but to make the best of his first stint in the minor leagues since 2019, other than injury rehabilitation assignments.

“Obviously, it’s frustrating, but I think after the dust settled, the biggest thing was ultimately controlling what I could control and making the absolute most out of this situation,” Bednar said. “Frustrating at the time, but channeling it and becoming better and, in a month or two, being able to look back and say, ‘OK, I gained something from that experience,’ and even more than a month or two, a couple years down the line, how that changes your perspective.

“I’m very excited to be back and convicted. I know what I have to do and I’m just dialed in.”

A resurgent Bednar would be welcome news for the Pirates in a season rapidly slipping away.