TAMPA, Fla. — Just three months before David Bednar’s unexpected trade to the New York Yankees in the summer of 2025, the seasoned reliever found himself behind the wheel on Interstate 80, driving westward toward Indianapolis alongside his wife. At that moment, Bednar was grappling with a staggering career setback after enduring the most difficult season of his professional life, followed by a troubling start to 2025.
His mind was consumed by frustration while heading to the Pirates’ Triple-A affiliate, unsure how he would respond to such a drastic demotion. Known as a hometown star and two-time All-Star for Pittsburgh in 2022 and 2023, Bednar had not pitched in the minors since 2019. The option of returning to the International League was a humbling blow for the respected reliever, who had long been a fan favorite at PNC Park despite the Pirates’ struggles.
Facing Setbacks and Rebuilding Confidence
As he drove toward Indianapolis, Bednar wrestled with acceptance, reminding himself to focus on climbing out of the slump and reclaiming his place in the majors. Despite doubts, he remained confident in his skills—his fastball velocity, quality off-speed pitches, and competitive resolve.
“Regardless of how I felt about it, I had to just deal with the circumstances at hand,”
Bednar said. “I had no other option than to turn it into a positive. I couldn’t allow myself to dwell on it. I had to turn that into a positive and into a springboard going forward.” — David Bednar, Reliever
“It was all a mindset thing. There was definitely a day or two early on where I just had to get over myself. This is where I am, where my feet are. I had to get better and crawl out of that.”
— David Bednar, Reliever
In just 11 days and five appearances in the minors, Bednar’s performance improved dramatically. Demonstrating sharp control and attacking the strike zone, he retired 15 of 16 batters, striking out seven and allowing only one infield single. His command and confidence translated immediately after returning to the major league bullpen, where he resumed closing games for Pittsburgh despite the team’s overall decline.
“I was consistent in the zone again, attacking guys,”
Bednar remarked.
Trade to the Yankees and Immediate Challenges
Heading into the trade deadline in late July, the Pirates, carrying a losing record, traded Bednar to the Yankees in exchange for three minor league players: catchers Rafael Flores and Edgleen Perez, as well as outfielder Brian Sanchez. While leaving his hometown organization was bittersweet, Bednar welcomed the opportunity to join a franchise in a tight pennant race, playing before sold-out crowds at the iconic Yankee Stadium instead of the quieter stands of PNC Park.
His Yankees debut, along with three other newly acquired players, was rough as the team surrendered a seven-run lead in Miami, dropping a 13-12 contest. Yet Bednar’s struggles in that single game did not define his tenure in New York.
Seizing the Closer Role in New York
With inconsistent performances from other high-leverage relievers, Bednar quickly distinguished himself as the Yankees’ most reliable late-inning option. He supplanted fellow relievers Devin Williams, Luke Weaver, and Camilo Doval for the closer role. While Doval struggled to adjust to New York, Bednar’s steady presence was a key factor in the bullpen. Over 22 games with the Yankees, he posted a 4-0 record, a 2.19 ERA, and notched 10 saves, finishing the season with 27 saves across 66 appearances.
Despite never experiencing playoff pressure in Pittsburgh, Bednar thrived amidst the intensity of a pennant chase. The heightened stakes fueled his best performances and strengthened his resolve.
“That’s what the market demands and what the New York Yankees are all about,”
Bednar shared.
“Wearing the pinstripes is a privilege.”
— David Bednar, Reliever
Welcomed into a New Brotherhood
The transition from Pittsburgh to New York was made easier by the warm reception from Yankees captain Aaron Judge and other teammates, who embraced Bednar right away.
“Coming from Pittsburgh right after the deadline was such a big change,”
Bednar said.
“Everybody was awesome and made me a lot more comfortable to just be myself and go out there.”
“I think with that, you want to earn everybody’s trust. You do that by taking the ball and doing whatever you can to help the team.”
— David Bednar, Reliever
Bednar quickly became a cornerstone of the Yankees bullpen, filling a need they had hoped to address by acquiring Devin Williams the previous offseason. His dependability stood out in a relief corps that had otherwise struggled.
Impact in the Postseason and Manager’s Praise
The Yankees secured a Wild Card spot with 94 wins but fell short in the division title after a tiebreaker loss to the Blue Jays. They defeated the Red Sox in the Wild Card Series before dropping a Division Series to Toronto. In his first postseason action, Bednar excelled by allowing only one run over six innings with nine strikeouts in five appearances.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone highlighted Bednar’s qualities as a key contributor:
“Strike throwing with three pitches. The ability to land the breaking ball. He pitches with the fastball both sides of the plate, up and down. And then he’s got a really good split to go with it.”
“So he’s got three pitches that he commands coupled with really good demeanor. He’s a really good competitor between the lines. He wants the ball. He’s fairly laid back off the field in a good way.”
— Aaron Boone, Yankees Manager
Building Leadership and Looking Forward
At 31, Bednar is not a short-term rental; he remains under team control for another year at a reasonable cost of $9 million. With no looming competition for the closer spot this spring, Boone confirmed Bednar’s role to lead the bullpen.
“My plan is for Bednar to close,”
Boone stated, adding he would deploy Fernando Cruz and Camilo Doval as setup men.
“I expect him to become one of the leaders down there for us,”
Boone said.
“He sets a good example with his work ethic and who he is and how he goes about his business. He’s a guy that I want our guys looking to a lot.”
Bednar embraces this responsibility and believes his varied career experiences make him well-suited to mentor younger pitchers. Having been traded twice, endured slumps, and filled numerous bullpen roles, he understands the challenges teammates may face.
“I’ve had the vantage point of a lot of different things throughout the bullpen,”
Bednar said.
“I’ve been in a lot of different roles from closing games to last year I was optioned, so I understand the whole realm of it and I’m able to relate to a lot of different guys.”
“I’ll try and give whatever wisdom whenever I can. A lot of us just lead by example and try to do the right thing.”
— David Bednar, Reliever
Anticipating a Stronger Bullpen This Season
Although the Yankees bullpen struggled before Bednar’s arrival last year, the pitching corps gained strength upon his inclusion. Early impressions from spring training encourage Bednar that the bullpen is poised to take another step forward this season.
“Without a doubt, I think the talent is there with the amount of arms we have that are really special,”
Bednar said.
“It’s been really cool to see everybody come in to camp prepared and ready to roll.”
“I’m really excited because it’s a really good group of guys. I think that helps create a really strong bullpen, that bond that we have and wanting to pick everybody up and pass the baton.”
— David Bednar, Reliever
When the Yankees find themselves three outs from victory in close games, the final inning will likely be Bednar’s domain, a role he has earned through resilience and determination.
Reflection on a Journey Defined by Resilience
Looking back on the difficult drive to Indianapolis last April and the demotion that followed, Bednar sees those challenges as a pivotal turning point leading to his success with the Yankees.
“I remember trying to process what happened during that six-hour drive to Indianapolis,”
he recalled.
“I was thinking, ‘How quickly can I turn this into a positive and make it be the best thing for me?’ That’s what happened.”
— David Bednar, Reliever
From a humbling setback to establishing himself as a dependable closer in New York, David Bednar’s journey underscores the power of perseverance and mental strength. His comeback story not only revitalizes his career but also strengthens the Yankees’ bullpen as they aim for postseason success in the coming seasons.
