PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – He was just looking to make the team in Spring Training. Wednesday David Bednar named the Steve Blass Award winner as the best Pirates pitcher in 2021.
Bednar has 12 straight scoreless outings as he recently returned from a right oblique strain. On the season, Bednar got his first MLB win and save and in 59.2 innings, 76 strikeouts, 19 walks and a 2.11 ERA. He is 3-1 with three saves, a 0.96 WHIP and opponents' batting just .180 against him.
The Mars High School graduate said it's an honor especially knowing the career Steve Blass had and hearing him on the radio growing up.
"Every single day walking into the park," Bednar said of having success at home. "It brings a smile to my face. Every day I will look back at the skyline, smile and say 'man, this is awesome'. Every day I have to pinch myself. It keeps getting cooler and cooler."
"I don't know if I've ever been around a guy that grew up in an area that embraced playing in their town as much as he does," said Pirates manager Derek Shelton. "He loves every part of being from Pittsburgh."
"From the dudes from Mars with four IC Light's hanging out over the dugout screaming at me to put him in during the second inning. He loves it. He loves being from here. He's very prideful of it."
"I love the fact that he embraces it. He wears it with pride every single day. I think it's cool."
Bednar took what would have been a cool story if he pitched in one game to an award-winning season. He did so with little expectations.
"Coming into camp, my main focus was to make the team and stick around all year," Bednar said Wednesday. "Establish myself as a big leaguer. To be able to pitch in bigger situations was icing on the cake."
"Coming into it, I just wanted to get outs. I think everybody wants to throw in those big spots, for them to have the trust in me to throw me out in those, gave me confidence even more."
The 26-year-old only got 17 MLB opportunities with the Padres, four in 2020. Bednar gave up five runs in 6.1 innings. Motivated by his lack of opportunities, he found out a month before Spring Training he was part of the trade return to the Pirates for starting pitcher Joe Musgrove.
"Last year left a bad taste in my mouth," Bednar said. "I didn't have the year I wanted. I started the off-season with a chip on my shoulder. When I got traded here, it was a new opportunity. Clean slate and went out there to compete."
Bednar said he's learned from different veterans with the Pirates, several who aren't here anymore. He really admired how even keeled they were and tried to add that to his game.
Now the Pittsburgh native shares an award with the players he used to come and cheer-AJ Burnett, Francisco Liriano and Gerrit Cole.
"It's been an awesome year," Bednar said. "Hopefully just get to work this offseason and keep it rolling."
