Giants Prospect Will Bednar Discusses His Plus Slider

Will Bednar had a disappointing 2022 season. Drafted 14th overall in 2021 by the San Francisco Giants after a breakout campaign at Mississippi State University, the 22-year-old right-hander battled back issues and saw both his velocity and command take a step in the wrong direction. Pitching at Low-A San Jose, he logged a 4.19 ERA and issued 22 free passes in 43 innings. But there were positives, too. Even with the health-related downtick in his power arsenal’s effectiveness, the younger brother of Pittsburgh Pirates closer David Bednar fanned 51 batters and allowed just 25 hits.

One year ago this month, our lead prospect analyst Eric Longenhagen wrote that “Bednar’s best pitch is a plus low-80s slider with plenty of bite.” The offering remains the righty’s go-to, and I talked to him about it during his stint in the Arizona Fall League.

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David Laurila: Let’s start with the nuts and bolts. What is your repertoire?

Will Bednar: “Fastball, slider, changeup. I’ve been kind of playing around with a little bit of a two-seam, too.”

Laurila: The slider is your best pitch?

Bednar: “Yeah. The slider is definitely my best pitch. Without a doubt.”

Laurila: What is the story behind it?

Bednar: “I started tinkering with it in high school because I needed a faster off-speed pitch. It kind of started out as a cutter. I just kind of gripped one half of the baseball and threw it as hard as I could, and it would get like a short action. From there it slowly developed into me wanting to actually throw a true slider. I met with a bunch of different people and took bits and pieces — anything that would make it one little bit better — and slowly, over time, it morphed into what it is now.”

Laurila: Who were some of the people you took bits and pieces from?

Bednar: “So, the first one is probably one of my coaches in AAU ball, in high school. Actually, two of my coaches. They both had some time in pro ball — just in the minor leagues — and they had some good input on slider stuff. There’s also a guy back home — he lives in the [Pittsburgh] area — named Matt Clement. I had met with him…”

Laurila: Former big-league pitcher Matt Clement?

Bednar: “Yes. I met with him and he kind of gave me some good tips. And then, at school, one of the upperclassmen told me, ‘Throw it as hard as you can.’ That kind of also took it to another level.”

Laurila: What do you recall Clement telling you?

Bednar: “The things he said were mostly about my middle finger. It’s almost like feeling… my middle finger is the last thing to touch the ball. That was a really good help, feeling my middle finger off of the seam when I finish the pitch.”

Laurila: Has your slider changed at all since getting to pro ball?

Bednar: “It’s about the same, although it hasn’t always been as good this year. I’d say it kind of peaked in college. But for me, it’s about trying to keep that same sweepy shape. When I face lefties it’s usually a little shorter and a little bit firmer, although that’s not on purpose all the time. Sometimes when I try to start it just off the plate, arm-side, kind of to land it for a strike, it ends up being a little shorter.”

Laurila: How many inches of horizontal do you normally get?

Bednar: “I’m not 100% sure? I don’t look too deep into the metrics a whole lot.”

Laurila: Would you characterize it as a sweeper?

Bednar: “Yes. It’s mostly horizontal, but there is still a decent amount of depth. The way I throw it feels right, and that’s what seems to give me the most success.”

Laurila: What about the velocity?

Bednar: “It’s usually 80-84 [mph] — right in between there — and I’ve thrown it as hard as 86. But again, I’m usually around 80-84, so it’s not super hard; it’s not a gyro slider or anything like that. I think that range is perfect for me, because it gives me the most opportunity for movement.”

Laurila: How often do you throw it? Are you pretty slider-heavy?

Bednar: “Yeah. I’m pretty slider-heavy, probably between 30% and 40%… and especially to righties. I throw it to righties a lot.”

Laurila: Is there anything unique or notable about your fastball or changeup?

Bednar: “My changeup has kind of been a work in progress for about a year now. I’m trying to find tweaks to make it better, but it’s been… it’s definitely better than it was. I haven’t seen any of the metrics on it, but I know I’m getting more movement.

“I get pretty solid ride on the fastball — it carries pretty well — so even when the velo is down a little bit, it seems to play harder than it is.”

Laurila: Would you consider yourself a power pitcher?

Bednar: “I think so. But what matters most is just getting outs.”