Will Bednar, RHP Mississippi State
Draft Eligible: 2021
Year: Sophomore
DOB/Draft Age: June 13, 2000 (21)
H/T: R/R
HT: 6-2
WT: 229
Physical Description: Average height, broad-shouldered thick frame. Strong lower half, muscular legs, a little soft in the middle. Body will require some maintenance.
Mechanics: Semi-windup; drop and drive delivery; longer arm action, quick arm, ¾ arm slot. High leg kick with slight hitch before full extension, great balance, generates excellent force from his back leg. Effort in his arm action, falls off slightly to the first base side at times. Other times his momentum will nearly spin him around after release.
Fastball: 92-94 mph, touching 96 mph. High rise fastball that generates a tremendous amount of swings and misses. Heavily high quadrant plan of attack, strong ride allows the pitch to play elevated. Locates well to the gloveside, will struggle at times to locate armside. Overall above-average command of the pitch. Above-average fastball with some room to push for plus. GRADE: 55
Slider: Sweepy slider; sits 81-84 mph, touches 86 mph. Late dynamic sweep, fools righthanders off the plate. Does an excellent job of expanding the zone. Tunnels off of fastball before breaking late. Thrown hard with frisbee like movement at times. High spin, average 2700+ rpms, with great shape. Will show two-plane movement at times. Commands well, pounding the gloveside outer-half. GRADE: 55
Changeup: Sits 81-84 mph, lacks feel, rarely thrown for a strike. A few that flash above-average potential, showing run and tumble, but they’re few and far between. Rarely used, strictly deployed versus left handed hitters. GRADE: 40
Control and Command: Above-average strike thrower that dominates the zone. Will miss with his fastball armside, and shows little feel for his changeup, detracting from the overall command grade. Owns the gloveside part of the plate versus right handed hitters, landing his slider with consistency, setting up his fastball for looking strikes away. CONTROL: 55 COMMAND: 50
Overall: A draft eligible sophomore, Bednar is a two-pitch starter with relief risk heading into pro-ball. His fastball dominates high in the zone, showing efficient backspin and carry. It’s generates swings and misses at a 21% swinging strike rate, and is rarely barreled. His slider is his best pitch, locating to the gloveside with consistency. His slider misses bats an even higher rate, generating swinging strikes at a 27% rate. No split issues as he sees equal success versus righthanders and lefthanders. Incredibly fastball heavy versus lefthanders, needs to develop his changeup to remain viable as a starter. A tantalizing arm talent with a middle relief floor and #4 starter upside.
OFP: 45
Role: 40 - #5 Starter
Risk: Moderate
Round Grade: Late First Round to Second Round