Full name is David Jeffrey Bednar...Attended Lafayette College in Easton, Pa… over three seasons (2014-16), went 7-16 with a 3.79 ERA (166.1IP, 139H, 81R/70ER, 45BB, 188K, 8HR) in 29 starts…his 188 strikeouts are the third-most in program history...Was born and raised in the Pittsburgh area…graduated from Mars Area High School in Mars, Pa. in 2013…went 13-2 with 145K in 101.1IP during his high school career…posted a 4-2 record and a 0.95 ERA as a senior…was named MVP as a junior and senior and was a 2012-13 All-Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and All-Section selection…his high school jersey, No. 24, was retired at Mars Area High School on Feb. 3, 2023...His father, Andy, coached baseball at Mars Area High School for more than 30 years...His brother, Will, pitched at Mississippi State and was selected by San Francisco in the first round of the 2021 First-Year Player Draft (14th overall)...Was the Pirates’ Roberto Clemente nominee for three straight seasons from 2022-24…was a major presence at various community events for the Pirates and its 501(c)(3), Pirates Charities...Was Pittsburgh’s MLBPAA Pirates Heart and Hustle Award nominee in 2023...Has donated funds to Lending Hearts, a Pittsburgh-based non-profit centered around providing emotional, social and physical support to pediatric cancer patients and their families, and Jake’s Way, who helps children play sports and have appropriate equipment no matter their income or hardship.
2025
Combined to go 6-5 with 27 saves and a 2.30 ERA (62.2IP, 46H, 18R/16ER, 19BB, 86K, 4HR) in 64 appearances with the Pirates and Yankees…set a career high in wins and strikeouts…opponents batted .200/.263/.304 (46-for-230, 4HR); LH .178/.273/.243 (19-for-107, 1HR); RH .220/.254/.358 (27-for-123, 3HR)...Among Major League relievers, ranked sixth in save percentage (90%) and 11th in strikeout rate (34.3%) and K/9.0IP ratio (12.35)...Recorded double-digit saves for his fourth straight season (since 2022) and recorded at least 20 saves for his third straight season (since 2023)…his 27 saves were his second-most in a single season, trailing only his career-high 39 saves in 2023...Allowed only 4HR to 251BF, posting a 0.57 HR/9.0IP...Over his final 61 games (4/19-9/28), went 6-3 with 23 saves and a 1.90 ERA (61.2IP, 13ER) and 85K...Went 4-0 with 10 saves and a 2.19 ERA (24.2IP, 6ER) and 35K in 22 relief appearances with the Yankees…held opponents to a .159/.237/.273 (14-for-88, 2HR) slash line...Did not allow a run in 18 of his 22 games with the Yankees...Recorded at least four outs in five of his 22 games with the Yankees...Won his final five decisions of the season (6/19-G2-9/21), marking a career-long winning streak...Went 6-1 with 23 saves, a 1.31 ERA (48.0IP, 7ER) and 64K over his final 46 games from 5/24-9/28 after going 0-4 with four saves and a 5.52 ERA (14.2IP, 9ER) over his first 18 games of the year (3/27-5/23)...Did not allow an earned run in 41 of his final 46 games (5/24-9/28)...Began the season with the Pirates, going 2-5 with 17 saves and a 2.37 ERA (38.0IP, 32H, 12R/10ER, 10BB, 51K, 2HR) in 42 relief appearances...Converted 17 straight saves from 3/28-7/28, tied for the third-longest streak in the Majors in 2025, trailing only Josh Hader’s 25-save streak from 3/27-7/5 and Raisel Iglesias’ 18-save streak from 7/28-9/28 (Carlos Estévez also converted 17 straight saves from 7/20-9/27)…was the fifth-longest season-opening streak by a Pirates reliever in franchise history and the longest since Jason Grilli converted his first 25 saves to begin the 2013 season...Picked up his first save of the season on 3/28 at Miami despite allowing 2R/ER in 1IP (1H, 1BB, 1K, 1HR)...Went 0-2 with one save and allowed 4R/3ER over his first three games of the season from 3/27-30 (4H, 2BB/1IBB, 1K, 1HR) before being optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis on 4/1...Allowed only 1H over five scoreless relief appearances with Triple-A Indianapolis before being recalled on 4/19...Earned his third save on 4/30 vs. Chicago-NL after tossing a scoreless ninth inning (1.0IP, 1H, 1K)…marked his 87th career save with the Pirates, surpassing Felipe Vázquez (86) for fifth-place on Pittsburgh’s all-time saves list (since saves became an official stat in 1969)...Did not allow an ER in a career-high 23 straight games from 5/24-7/26…lowered his season ERA from 5.52 to 2.19 over that stretch...Was named the National League “Reliever of the Month” for June after not allowing an earned run over 10 relief appearances (10IP, 4H, 1R/0ER, 3BB, 16K), going 2-1 with five saves in that span…marked his second career National League “Reliever of the Month” award (also May 2022 with Pittsburgh)...Picked up his first win of the year after striking out all 3BF in the Pirates’ “walk-off” victory on 6/6 vs. Philadelphia…marked his first Major League win since 5/21/24 vs. San Francisco...Recorded his second win of the season on 6/19 at Detroit-G2 after tossing 1.2 scoreless innings (1BB, 2K)...Posted a season-high 13.0 scoreless inning streak from 6/19(G2)-7/26…was the second-longest scoreless streak of his career, trailing only a 13.1 scoreless inning streak from 8/15-9/28/21...Recorded his 100th career save on 7/26 vs. Arizona (1.0IP, 2K)...Was acquired by the Yankees from Pittsburgh in exchange for C Rafael Flores, C Edgleen Pérez and OF Brian Sánchez on 7/31…was added to the roster on 8/1...At the time of the trade, ranked among National League relievers in strikeout rate (fifth, 33.1%), K/9.0IP ratio (seventh, 12.08) and K/BB ratio (seventh, 5.10)...Made his Yankees debut on 8/1 at Miami and allowed 2R/ER over 1.2IP (4H, 2K, 1HR)...Recorded his 18th save of the season and first as a Yankee on 8/6 at Texas after recording a career-high 5K over 1.2 scoreless innings (1H, 2BB)…his season-high 42 pitches were his most in a game since tossing 43 pitches on 6/15/22 at St. Louis with Pittsburgh…marked his sixth career save of at least five outs and his first since 7/29/23 vs. Philadelphia (also 1.2IP)…was one of three Yankees in 2025 to record at least five outs in a save (also Fernando Cruz tossed 2.0IP in a save on 4/16 vs. Kansas City and Ryan Yarbrough tossed 3.0IP in a save on 9/11 vs. Detroit)...Earned his third win of the season and first as a Yankee on 8/9 vs. Houston after tossing 1.2 scoreless innings (1BB, 2K)...Made his 300th career appearance and picked up his 20th save of the season on 8/16 at St. Louis (0.1IP), retiring his only batter faced for the final out of the game and stranding two inherited runners...Earned his fourth win of the year on 8/20 at Tampa Bay (1.0IP, 2H, 2R/ER, 1BB, 3K)...Recorded his fifth win of the season and third as a Yankee on 8/30 at Chicago-AL after tossing a season-high 2.0 scoreless innings (1H, 1K)…marked his longest outing since 6/24/23 at Miami with Pittsburgh (also 2.0IP)...Retired all 4BF on 9/6 vs. Toronto to pick up the save (1.1IP, 3K, 1WP)...Recorded the save in five straight appearances from 9/6-16, the second-longest streak of his career (recorded six saves over six games from 8/25-9/6/23 with Pittsburgh)...Went 1-0 with seven saves and a 0.87 ERA (10.1IP, 1ER) and 13K over his final 10 games (9/6-28)…held opponents to a .091/.167/.182 (3-for-33) slash line over that span...Recorded his sixth win of the year and fourth as a Yankee on 9/21 at Baltimore (1.0IP, 1BB, 1K)...Earned the save in the Yankees’ final regular-season game on 9/28 vs. Baltimore (1.0IP, 1BB, 2K)...Saw his first career postseason action, recording two saves, a 1.50 ERA (6.0IP, 1ER) and 9K in five postseason appearances…allowed his only run in his postseason debut in ALWCS Game 1 vs. Boston (0.2IP, 2H, 1R/ER, 1K)…recorded saves in ALWCS Game 2 vs. Boston (1.0IP, 2K) and ALDS Game 3 vs. Toronto (1.2IP, 2K).
2024
Was Pittsburgh’s nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award for the third consecutive year...Missed most of Spring Training due to tightness in his right latissimus dorsi...Made the Opening Day roster for the fourth straight year...Made season debut in a non-save situation on 3/30 at Miami and retired all three batters he faced...Suffered a blown save, but also picked up the win in his second outing on 3/31 at Miami; surrendered a solo home run to pinch-hitting Nick Gordon with one out in the ninth inning...Picked up his first save on 4/4 at Washington...Gave up four runs in 0.1ip and suffered his third straight blown save and first loss on 4/9 vs. Detroit; also hit two batters in a game for the first time in his career... Recorded saves in back-to-back games on 4/22-23 vs. Milwaukee...Appeared in his 200th career game on 4/26 at San Francisco and surrendered a three-run walk-off homer in a 3-0 loss...Gave up a two-run homer, but picked up his fifth save on 4/27 at San Francisco...Appeared in his 100th career game at PNC Park and picked up his second win on 5/4 vs. Colorado; became the 15th player with 100 career games pitched at PNC Park...Picked up his seventh save on 5/11 vs. Chicago (NL), moving him ahead of Matt Capps and into eighth place on the Pirates all-time saves list with 68... Moved into sole possession of seventh place on the club’s all-time saves list (71) while earning his 10th save on 5/19 at Chicago (NL)...Earned his 16th save (15th straight) in another 1-0 win on 6/19 vs. Cincinnati...Was placed on the 15-day injured list on 6/23 (retro to 6/20) with a strained left oblique muscle...Began a rehab assignment with Altoona on 7/9 and pitched a scoreless inning vs. Bowie...Was returned from rehab and reinstated from the I.L. on 7/12...Had his streak of 19 consecutive saves snapped with a blown save on 8/7 vs. San Diego (was his first blown save since 4/9)...Allowed one run while earning his 21st save on 8/16 vs. Seattle; the save tied him with Joel Hanrahan for sixth place on the club’s all-time saves list...Entered the game on 8/17 vs. Seattle with the bases loaded and no outs and a 7-2 lead and retired all three batters he faced to notch his 22nd save...Posted a 3.38 ERA (10.2ip/5r/4er) in 12 games in September after being removed from the closer's role on 8/31.
2023
Posted career highs in games, saves, innings (67.1), strikeouts and ERA (2.00) while being selected to his second straight N.L. All-Star Team (did not pitch)… Was one of three Pirates to have at least a share of the league lead in saves since it became an official statistic in 1969, joining Mark Melancon in 2015 and Dave Giusti in 1971…His 39 saves were the fifth-most all-time by a Pirate and the most since Melancon had a team record 51 in 2015 and his 92.9 pct. save percentage was the second-best in team history [min. 40 opportunities], trailing only Melancon in 2015 (96.2%; 51-for-53)… Pitched for Team USA in World Baseball Classic and was scored upon once in four appearances; earned the win on 3/18 against Venezuela…Was Pittsburgh’s nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award for the second consecutive year... Converted 39 of his 42 save opportunities and shared the N.L. lead with San Francisco’s Camilo Doval (Emmanuel Clase led MLB with 44)…Led all Major League pitchers with 22 saves after the All-Star break…Picked up saves in three straight team games for the first time in his career as the Pirates swept the Cardinals from 6/2-4…Became one of just seven different Pirates to record three saves in a three-game series since saves became an official statistic in 1969 (Melancon was the last from June 1-3, 2015)…Converted his 16th straight save opportunity and notched his individual career season-high 20th save on 7/26 at San Diego…Recorded five outs to earn his 21st save on “David Bednar Bobblehead Night” on 7/29 vs. Philadelphia…Struck out at least one batter in 12 straight games from 6/29 thru 8/1 (22 total)…Converted 18 straight save opportunities from 4/18 thru 8/1…Converted each of his last 16 straight save opportunities, dating back to 8/13.
2022
Was selected to the All-Star Game for the first time in his career, becoming the first Pirates player since Dick Groat (Swissvale High School in 1962) to play in the All-Star Game from the WPIAL (Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League)...Pitched a scoreless ninth inning in the Midsummer Classic at Dodger Stadium on 7/19...Was the team’s nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award...Made the Opening Day roster for the second time in his career...Made eight straight scoreless appearances to start the season (9.0ip) and struck out at least one batter in each of his first 14 games through 5/14 (25 batters total)...Was named the National League Relief Pitcher-of-the-Month for May after going 2-1 with seven saves (eight opportunities), a 1.65 ERA and 21 strikeouts in 12 appearances...Struck out two of the three Arizona batters he faced on 6/5 to earn his 10th save while making his 100th career appearance... Pitched a career-high 2 2/3 innings and recorded an eight-out save on 6/15 at St. Louis; the first Pittsburgh pitcher since Jason Christiansen on 7/22/98 to record a save of at least eight outs in a game decided by two runs or fewer...Was on the Injured List from 8/30-9/22 with low back inflammation.
2021
Led National League rookie pitchers in appearances (61) and ranked fourth in the Majors; Kansas City’s Jake Brentz was first (72)...Posted a 1.01 ERA (35.2ip/4er) in his final 33 games, dating back to 6/18; the second-lowest ERA in the N.L. among pitchers with at least 30.0ip in that time (New York’s Aaron Loup was the lowest at 0.47)...His 2.23 ERA was the 10th-lowest for a Pirates rookie pitcher (min: 60.0ip) all-time...Was voted the recipient of the Steve Blass Award; named annually since 2012 by the local chapter of the BBWAA as the Pirates' top pitcher...Stranded 19 of his 21 inherited runners; the sixth-lowest rate in the N.L. (min: 12 inherited runners)...Made the Opening Day roster after posting a 0.00 ERA and a team-high 18 strikeouts in 10 appearances during spring training (8.2ip)...Made season debut on 4/1 at Chicago (NL) and struck out two of the three batters he faced...Gave up two solo home runs in 1.0ip on 4/7 at Cincinnati; was charged with two earned runs over his next 14 games (12.1ip) thru 5/14...Made nine straight scoreless appearances (7.2ip) from 4/8 thru 5/3...Suffered his first blown save and loss of the year on 6/13 at Milwaukee (1.0ip/2r)...Retired all six batters he faced while earning his third win on 8/3 at Milwaukee; also struck out in his only plate appearance of the season...Picked up his first Major League save on 8/21 at St. Louis - his first professional save since 8/25/19 while pitching with Amarillo...Tossed a 1-2-3 ninth inning while earning his first save at PNC Park on 8/23 vs. Arizona... Made 10 straight scoreless appearances from 7/2-28 (10.0ip) and 12 straight scoreless outings from 8/15 thru 9/28 (13.1ip)...Was placed on the 10-day injured list on 9/11 (right oblique strain)...Was reinstated on 9/26...Posted a 1.69 ERA (32.0ip/6er) and a .177 batting average against in 34 games at PNC Park...Pitched more than 1.0 inning seven times, including a season-high 2.0ip on four occasions.
2020
Began shortened season with San Diego...Made two appearances (2.1ip/2r/1er) before being optioned to the alternate training site on 8/3...Was recalled on 8/15 and pitched a career-high 2.0 innings (2r) that night at Arizona...Returned to alternate site on 8/16...Was recalled on 8/27 as the 29th roster player for scheduled doubleheader that day vs. Seattle; gave up two runs in 2.0ip in game two in his final appearance.
2019
Spent the majority of the campaign with Amarillo (AA), where he posted a 2-5 record with a 2.95 ERA, 86 SO and a .226 opponent AVG in 44 appearances...Named a Texas League Mid-Season All-Star for AMA after posting a 3.82 ERA and converting 4 of his 5 SVO prior to the All-Star break…went on to convert each of his 10 SVO with a 1.98 ERA in the 2nd half...From June 1 until the time of his call-up, he recorded a 2.17 ERA in 28 appearances with 54 SO against just 5 BB, with the Sod Poodles going 21-7 in games in which he appeared...Converted 4 consecutive SVO from July 30-August 7 with 0 hits and 0 runs allowed in that time...In August, the final month of his minor league campaign, he went 1-0 with a 0.68 ERA (1 ER, 13.1 IP) and a .133 opponent AVG across 11 outings...Made his ML debut on Sept. 1 at SF, tossing a perfect inning to finish the game in the Padres' 8-4 win...Went on to toss 5.2-scoreless innings in his first 7 appearances to begin his ML career…allowed just 1 hit, 1 BB, 9 SO with a .056 opponent AVG and a 14.29 SO/9 rate through his first 7 appearances...Snapped his scoreless-innings streak on Sept. 15 at COL after giving up a 3-run HR to John Fuentes.
2018
Spent the season with Lake Elsinore (A), owning a 2.73 ERA (21 ER, 69.1 IP) and tying for second on the club in appearances (47)...Set career highs with 10 saves, 47 appearances and 96 strikeouts...His 2.73 ERA ranked fourth in the California League among relievers (min. 40 appearances)...Was the only hurler for LE to make more than 35 appearances and own a sub-3.00 ERA...His 21 games finished ranked second on the club behind Dauris Valdez's 27, and his 12.5 SO/9 IP ranked sixth.
2017
Split the season between Fort Wayne (A) and Lake Elsinore (A), going 1-4 with a 2.64 ERA (18 ER, 61.1 IP)...Appeared in 24 games for FW (all in relief), owning a 1.87 ERA (7 ER, 33.2 IP), 0.86 WHIP and .154 opponent AVG...Combined for 11 saves (9 with FW and 2 with LE), converting 11 of 13 SVO...Posted 13.4 SO/9 IP with his 81 strikeouts in 61.1 innings of work.
