SF Giants draft RHP Will Bednar with 14th overall pick in MLB draft

The SF Giants selected right-handed pitcher Will Bednar out of Mississippi State with the 14th overall pick in the 2021 MLB draft. Around the Foghorn was the first to report the Giants would select the SEC star. The Giants have no more scheduled selections on Day 1 of the draft and will be on the clock with the 50th overall pick tomorrow when teams will make their selections in rounds 2-10.

The 14th selection has an allocated slot value of $4,036,800. Since Michael Holmes became the Giants amateur scouting director in 2019, the Giants have signed each of their first-round picks (Hunter Bishop and Patrick Bailey) for signing bonuses below slot value to enable them to spend more money on players later in the draft without incurring penalties. With top prep prospect Kahlil Watson still available on the board to the Giants at 14, it would seem likely that Bednar will accept a below-slot deal as well.

The SF Giants selected Will Bednar in the first round of the 2021 MLB draft.

Bednar’s first year in college was cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic, but he posted a 1.76 ERA with 23 strikeouts and just 6 walks over 15.1 innings pitched last spring. He missed the start of the 2021 season with a neck injury but was exceptional when he returned out of the Mississippi State rotation. He finished the year with 139 strikeouts across 92.1 innings pitched with 26 walks and a 3.12 ERA. The righty was particularly dominant in the postseason, helping the Bulldogs win the national title over Vanderbilt.

Bednar is young for the draft class, having turned 21 less than a month ago. He has primarily relied on a fastball/slider mix. His heater sits around 93 mph and has touched 97 mph. His fastball pairs well with a mid-80s breaking ball that has sharp vertical movement and plus potential. Bednar has occasionally thrown a changeup but rarely had to rely on it as an amateur. Since the Giants selected him in the first round, they clearly believe he will be able to develop a consistent third offering, which will likely be vital to helping him stick in the rotation. If it all comes together, he has the foundation to be an impact player for years to come at Oracle Park.

The SF Giants have added an intriguing new prospect to their farm system after drafting right-handed pitcher Will Bednar in the first round of the 2021 MLB draft.