Bednar impressing in 'pen; Hayes takes BP

As a Minor Leaguer in the Padres’ system, right-hander David Bednar notched 39 saves, including 14 at Double-A Amarillo in 2019.

Featuring a fastball, a splitter/slider hybrid dubbed the “splider” and a curveball, he has all the makings to be a future late-innings closer for the Pirates. But if you ask him, he’s happy with where he’s at, helping keep the Bucs ahead or close whenever his number is called.

“Eventually,” said Bednar, when asked about the potential opportunity. “But right now, whenever my name is called, I’m going to go out there and get outs and execute pitches, and get my team back out there.”

Entering Tuesday's series finale against the Royals, Bednar compiled a 2.70 ERA across 22 appearances, including four straight scoreless innings to close out the month of May.

“He's done a really nice job,” manager Derek Shelton said. “He's pitched himself into leverage situations. I think we knew the fastball -- the velocity was there -- we're seeing the development of the curveball and the split, and he continues to get better every time out.”

In Pittsburgh, Bednar is pitching consistent innings along with the added comfort that comes with playing for your hometown team. He’s also focused on keeping things simple.

“Not trying to do too much, not trying to get too high with the highs or get too low with lows, Bednar said. “So just kind of try and stay consistent each day, day in day out, and just keep that simple approach, and just fill out the zone. More often than not when you do that, good things happen.”

Hayes gearing up for Thursday

Ahead of Tuesday’s series finale against the Royals, Ke’Bryan Hayes, ranked as the Pirates' No. 1 prospect by MLB Pipeline and sidelined by a left wrist injury, participated in a batting practice session against Trevor Cahill, who is also currently on the IL with a left calf injury.

Shelton noted that Hayes could take ground balls in the infield during batting practice, as he prepares to be activated for Thursday’s series opener against the Marlins at PNC Park.

Around the horn

• Miguel Yajure, the centerpiece of the trade that sent starter Jameson Taillon to the Yankees, is dealing with right elbow discomfort and is currently being evaluated, per Shelton.

Yajure, the Bucs’ No. 12 prospect, last made an appearance for the big league club on May 14, pitching five scoreless innings with four strikeouts. In his last start for Triple-A Indianapolis, Yajure permitted five earned runs in five innings.

• The two-game series against the Royals at Kauffman Stadium and the utilization of the designated hitter, allowed Shelton to give Adam Frazier and Bryan Reynolds some much needed rest. Frazier served as the DH on Monday and Reynolds started at DH on Tuesday.

“When you come into American League parks, the ability to give guys a rest and still keep their bat in the lineup is a benefit for National League teams,” Shelton noted.

• Another benefit of being in Kansas City is the nearby Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, which the Pirates visited on Monday, with museum president Bob Kendrick providing a tour for the players.

“For our guys to be able to go out and see a little bit about the history and culture of the Negro Leagues, especially because of how important it is in Pittsburgh with the teams that we had and the players that we had there, and Josh Gibson being there, it's really important,” Shelton said. “For our guys to get a little taste of that and a little history, it was really cool.”

He said it

“To hear some of our guys say yesterday, ‘I can't wait to bring my dad back here.’ That made it all worthwhile for me,” -- Shelton, on Monday’s trip to the Negro League Baseball Museum