The Giants selected Mississippi State right-handed pitcher Will Bednar with the No. 14 overall pick Sunday in the 2021 MLB Draft.
Bednar was named the Most Outstanding Player at the College World Series this year, leading the Bulldogs to their first ever national championship. He went 9-1 with a 3.12 ERA this season and struck out 139 batters in 92 1/3 innings.
Over his two years at Mississippi State, Bednar had a 0.99 WHIP and averaged 13.7 strikeouts per nine innings.
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SIGN UP HERE This is the first time the Giants have selected a pitcher in the first round since 2015, when they took Phil Bickford.
Bednar's dominance on the big stage saw him rise up draft boards. He went from the No. 38 prospect to the No. 18 prospect in Baseball America's latest rankings ahead of the draft. The 21-year-old has never been drafted before, but did everything right on the mound during his time with the Bulldogs.
In 2020, Bednar had a 1.76 ERA in four appearances (one start) during the shortened COVID-19 season. He's known to fill up the strike zone, and his fastball sits 92 to 94 mph. Bednar did reach 97 mph this spring.
When Mississippi State needed him most, Bednar brought his best stuff. In three starts at the College World Series -- two vs. Texas and one against Vanderbilt -- he allowed just three earned runs in 18 1/3 innings while only giving up five hits. Bednar struck out 26 batters and walked six in that three-game span.
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Baseball also is in Bednar's blood as his brother, David, is a pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates.
The last time the Giants drafted a Will from Mississippi State, it was of course Will Clark with the No. 2 pick in 1985. That turned out pretty well, and the Giants are rolling the dice the same will be said with Bednar as their top pick.
