Pirates All-Star closer David Bednar throws live batting practice, takes step toward returning

Dressed in full Pittsburgh Pirates uniform, David Bednar ran in from the bullpen, took the mound at PNC Park and threw warm-up pitches as if it was a save situation in the ninth inning.

It was only a live batting practice session four hours before the start of a game against the St. Louis Cardinals, but for Bednar it was a step in the right direction toward returning to playing in games again after missing more than a month while on the injured list with lower back tightness.

“Felt great to get back out there on that game mound and face hitters again,” Bednar said after throwing about 20 pitches pain-free. “We’re in a much better spot. Throwing now, it’s not even a thought. I’m just looking forward to going back out there and competing again.”

Pirates All-Star closer David Bednar on throwing a live batting practice at PNC Park today after missing more than a month of games: pic.twitter.com/uEFcFZ3S1S

— Kevin Gorman (@KevinGormanPGH) September 10, 2022

Pirates manager Derek Shelton called it “very encouraging” to see the Pirates closer pitching again. Bednar, who has a team-best 17 saves, was shut down on Aug. 3, two weeks after he pitched a scoreless ninth inning in the All-Star Game and a day after the MLB trade deadline passed.

“He walked off the mound with a smile on his face,” Shelton said. “Just watching it from the side, it looked good. (Sunday) will be the test how he comes in and shows up. As we’ve talked about, it’s always the next day, but really encouraging to see the ball come out of his hand.”

It was another positive day for Bednar, as the Mars alum was named the Pirates’ nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award on Thursday for his community service and off-field contributions to the club.

Pirates All-Star closer David Bednar, out since Aug. 3 with low back issues, throws BP before the Pirates play the Cardinals at PNC Park. pic.twitter.com/QEvn08U5Oq

— Kevin Gorman (@KevinGormanPGH) September 10, 2022

Bednar said his stuff was “sharp” and he’s “looking forward to getting into a game soon,” though he likely will first require a rehabilitation assignment before pitching for the Pirates. Shelton was most pleased with how Bednar pitched with a purpose, focusing on filling up the quadrants of the strike zone.

“I appreciate that,” Shelton said. “What that shows me is there was a purpose to it and he wasn’t just throwing. … So saying that the focus was there, that’s important. Then the fact that he walked off with a smile, those were all encouraging signs.”

The Pirates are 9-24 since Bednar went on the injured list, with different pitchers handling high-leverage roles in his absence. Shelton called the late-season loss of Bednar “extremely significant.”

“When you lose the guy that pitches from the back end moving forward, it reshuffles how you use your group,” Shelton said. “The negative side of that is we have an All-Star closer that we’ve not been able to use. On the flip side of it, being the optimist, now we’ve gotten to look at guys in different roles. But I will be excited to have him back.”

Bednar, for one, can’t wait to pitch in a game again.

“It’s really frustrating,” Bednar said. “I want to be out there with the guys and competing. I always want the ball, so when those kind of chances come up (when I’m) on the IL, it stinks. I’m looking forward to getting back out there.”