PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Pirates have brought David Bednar back to their Major League roster, with the announcement made ahead of their match against Cleveland on Saturday.
Bednar, who has been an All-Star closer for the team twice, was initially sent down to Triple-A Indianapolis earlier in the month due to a rocky start to the season. In his three appearances prior to the move, he held an 0-2 record, a steep 27.00 ERA, and had secured just one save.
Despite the demotion, Bednar showcased resilience and skill during his time in Indianapolis, maintaining an impressive performance with one hit allowed, seven strikeouts, and no walks over five innings. However, the Pirates have yet to outline a specific role for him in the bullpen.
Manager Derek Shelton noted, “We’re kind of pitching to what we think the leverage is and what we feel the matchup is, but excited to have him back. He went down, he pitched really well. He handled himself really well. I think we’ve said all along we’re a better bullpen with David Bednar in it. It’s nice to have him back.”
At present, the Pirates are operating with an 8-13 record and have employed a closer by committee approach. Dennis Santana has largely taken on the role in critical situations during the games.
Shelton expressed that the team will take a “day-by-day” approach regarding Bednar’s contributions, hoping he can recapture the form that saw him save 81 games between 2022 and 2024. “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,” said Shelton.