'Very confident' Bednar ready for bounceback

BRADENTON, Fla. -- David Bednar stepped onto the rubber at Pirate City on Sunday when Styx began to play. What better way to ring in his first live batting practice of Spring Training than with “Renegade,” the two-time All-Star’s entrance music.

“Someone had to have something to do with it,” Bednar said with a chuckle. “Nice little start to camp.”

It may just be Feb. 16 and Bryan Reynolds may have been in shorts while standing in the batter’s box, but Bednar looked like he could be throwing off PNC Park’s mound the way he was slinging it. Zip on the fastball, bend on the curve, drop on the splitter. Reynolds would end up being the victim of some of the nastier breaking stuff of the day, swinging through back-to-back offerings his first time up and ending his second at-bat with a wry smile after punching out in his second simulated at-bat. Bednar guessed he didn’t throw Reynolds enough fastballs, and he’ll fix that for their next spring battle.

For now, Bednar gets a "W" for looking like his 2023 form, one where he was an All-Star and tied for the National League lead in saves. He wasn’t that guy last season. A lat injury sidelined him for almost all of Spring Training and contributed to an ugly April. He rebounded halfway through the season, but the injury bug rolled around again and he struggled down the stretch, being removed from the closer role for the final month of the season.

The Pirates still had faith in him, which is why he’s positioned to be their closer again. When asked about Bednar in camp, pitching coach Oscar Marin said to the group that if they haven’t talked to him yet, “you're going to feel something different.” The confidence is back.

"I think any time you struggle a little bit, you're going to have your confidence shaken,” manager Derek Shelton said. “And I think the one thing with David is he grew up in Pittsburgh, plays for his hometown team - I think he took it personally that he didn't perform to the standard that he felt was important. And sometimes that's good to take to heart. I think he did take that to heart and I think he's kind of revitalized because of it."

Bednar maintains his confidence remained intact through last season’s ordeals, but there’s no hiding that the boos last year hurt. If there’s anyone in that clubhouse who knows Pittsburgh sports fans, it’s Bednar, the Mars, Pa., native. No good was going to come if he stayed down.

“You obviously don’t like it, but it’s the old adage: ‘If you don’t like it, play better,’” Bednar said. “I didn’t perform up to my standards, but I know what I’m capable of and I’m looking forward to this year.”

Marin also hinted that Bednar tweaked some parts of his delivery and release. There were times last year that Bednar got “glove side happy” and yanked the ball too much. Those are classic symptoms of overthrowing. Comparing his 2024 numbers, his four-seamer and curveball performed significantly worse than the year prior. His four-seamer slugging percentage allowed skyrocketed from .315 to .459, and his curveball whiff rate dropped from 40.5% to 24.5%. That may not have been the root of his problems, but it showed what can happen when he’s not pointed in the right direction when pitching.

“The biggest thing for me right now is staying in lanes, keeping a good direction and filling up the zone,” Bednar said. “I know with my stuff, when I compete in the zone, I’m going to have success.”

The Pirates need Bednar to do just that: compete in the zone and find success. The bullpen has potential, but a good chunk of the bullpen is young, and many of the veterans are looking to bounce back from either poor 2024 results or injuries. A bona fide closer in the ninth would add some much-needed stability to a group that needs it.

It’s not 2024 anymore, after all.

“Once the new year hit, it’s like, clean slate,” Bednar said. “I know the pitcher that I am. I know the guy I’m capable of being. I’m coming in very confident that I’ll be able to show that this year.”