With Devin Williams struggling and Aaron Boone expressing an openness to letting different relievers shut, David Bednar made a convincing case for the job in Wednesday’s 3-2 win over the Rangers.
Bednar, acquired from the Pirates final week, recorded a five-out, five-strikeout save within the victory, serving to the Yankees keep away from a sweep whereas sustaining the American League’s third wild card spot. The best-hander labored round two walks and a few questionable calls whereas throwing a season-high 42 pitches within the course of.
Bednar additionally survived a mound go to from Aaron Boone, who deliberate on pulling the pitcher for Camilo Doval for the ultimate out. However Bednar satisfied his supervisor to go away him within the recreation throughout the transient go to. Together with his new supervisor’s belief earned, Bednar went on to fan Adolis García on seven pitches, stranding two runners and ending the sport.
“I told him I wanted him, and he agreed,” Bednar mentioned, through the YES Community. “I just wanted to bear down and get that last one.”
“What a great, gutsy effort by Bed,” Boone added.
Whereas Bednar’s first save with the Yankees got here in dramatic style — and in his third look with the membership — the 30-year-old is not any stranger to closing.
Now in his seventh main league season, Bednar compiled 101 saves over 5 campaigns together with his hometown Pirates. An All-Star in 2022 and 2023, Bednar led the Nationwide League with 39 saves within the latter season.
Bednar additionally had a 2.25 ERA from 2021-2023. Whereas he scuffled in 2024, posting a 5.77 ERA, he tallied a 2.37 mark and 17 saves this season earlier than being traded.
With one other save on Wednesday, Bednar may very well be the Yankees’ current and future resolution to the nearer’s function, as he’s beneath group management by means of the 2026 season. In the meantime, Williams and Luke Weaver, one other reliever with closing expertise, are scheduled without cost company this winter.
The Yankees have prevented costly contracts for aid pitchers in recent times, and there was already doubt that Williams would return earlier than the group introduced in not one, however two, potential successors.
The opposite various is Doval, who saved 107 video games for the Giants after debuting for them in 2021. Doval has been extra erratic than Bednar — he owns a lifetime 4.3 BB/9 ratio — however he has a 3.30 ERA for his profession and offers the Yankees’ one other examined closing possibility with Williams working himself out of high-leverage belief as soon as once more.
Doval is beneath group management by means of the 2027 season. With him and Bednar not going wherever anytime quickly, the backend of the Yankees’ bullpen is in sturdy form shifting ahead.
