Will, David Bednar share time at the SF Giants vs. Team USA

SCOTTSDALE, Arizona – Will Bednar has seen David Bednar pitch at every level of baseball, from Class A Short Season to the majors. When the Giants introduced Will at Oracle Park after taking him in the first round of the 2021 MLB draft, David happened to be in town with the Pittsburgh Pirates and pitched a scoreless inning.

But what about David? Before Tuesday afternoon, how many times had his older brother watched his younger brother play in a pro game?

“A lot of zero,” Will said with a smile Tuesday morning.

Now, it’s more than one.

There was no shortage of cool moments during Team USA’s upset win over the Giants at Scottsdale Stadium. Top prospect Bryce Eldridge spoke to his childhood idol. Eight prospects suited up for the United States, sharing the dugout with the All-Stars and stars. And as for Bednar’s brothers, they faced each other for the first time in their lives.

“I use the word surreal all the time, but that’s exactly what it is,” said father Andy Bednar. “For both players to play in the same game, you couldn’t have planned it better. We knew this could happen, so we planned it months ago to come out here this week. But it worked out amazingly.”

San Francisco Giants pitcher Will Bednar #86 delivers a pitch during a spring training game against Team USA for the World Baseball Classic at Scottsdale Stadium on March 3, 2026 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (John Medina Special to Mercury News)

Team USA pitcher David Bednar #53 delivers a pitch during a spring training game against the San Francisco Giants at Scottsdale Stadium on March 3, 2026 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (John Medina Special to Mercury News)

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San Francisco Giants pitcher Will Bednar #86 delivers a pitch during a spring training game against Team USA for the World Baseball Classic at Scottsdale Stadium on March 3, 2026 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (John Medina Special to Mercury News)

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Mother Sue Bednar said: “It’s amazing to see them together in uniform. Yes, David represents the USA at the next level, and we are proud of both of them.”

David, playing in his second World Baseball Classic for Team USA, entered the bottom of the seventh inning with the United States already holding a 12-run lead in what would be a 15-1 victory. The two-time All-Star took care of his business quickly, retiring the side with nine pitches.

As David came off the mound, Will ran toward it in the top of the eighth. Will had to work around some traffic, allowing one to Cal Raleigh and Giants shortstop Scott Bandura, but he escaped the frame without allowing a run. And while David had a clean inning, Will hit 98.0 mph while David hit 95.5 mph.

“I think about all their hard work and all these years of not only playing games and practicing,” Sue said, “but all the extra stuff and extra practice and extra time they put in. That makes a big difference and allows them to do what they do. I’m proud of both of them for everything they’ve accomplished, both on and off the field.”

The Bednar brothers took many different roads to get to Tuesday’s show.

David was selected in the 35th round (late) of the 2016 MLB draft out of Lafayette College, a private liberal arts college located in Easton, Pennsylvania. In contrast, Will was the 14th overall pick in the ’21 MLB draft after being named the College World Series MVP for Mississippi State.

Despite Will’s hopes for the pedigree, it was David who emerged as one of the best relievers in baseball. After making his debut in 2019, David was traded to the hometown Pirates in ’21 as part of a three-way deal, then earned back-to-back All-Star nods in ’22 and ’23.

Will’s professional career has been very difficult thus far. Appearing in only 16 games in his first two professional seasons due to lingering back problems, he went from starting to reliever at the end of the 2024 season. Bednar spent most of ’25 with Double-A, posting a 4.97 ERA with Richmond before making a brief cameo with Triple-A Sacramento at the end of the season.

This is not to say that David’s career was without bumps in the road.

After three excellent seasons from 2021-23 (2.25 ERA), Bednar had a 5.77 ERA in 2024 and lost the closer’s role. In ’25, the Pirates promptly demoted Bednar to Triple-A after retiring three batters in his first three games. Bednar found his footing but was traded from his hometown team to the New York Yankees at the deadline, which turned out to be a long time coming.

Throughout their lives, the brothers leaned on each other like sounding boards.

“I just think of that brotherly bond,” said David. “You know what this is like and what everything is like. I think you’re always picking each other’s brains and sharing information.”

“Having each other as resources has been amazing,” Sue said. “David was on fire, and Will was able to get all that extra information that he probably wouldn’t have if he didn’t have David. … They’re the only ones who really know what it’s like and what it’s about, so there’s a lot of interdependence.”

Will was not taken in the Rule 5 Draft after finishing the 2025 season with a 5.68 ERA over 52 1/3 innings, but there’s reason to believe the right-hander has legitimate major league potential. While Bednar’s ERA didn’t look good, he posted a very encouraging 3.18 FIP. Bednar issued a ton of free passes (15.8% BB%) but struck out over a third of all batters he faced (34% K%).