David Bednar embracing Yankees chance that came with simple ‘wow’ moment

New Yankees closer David Bednar gets the call for some pennant race Q&A with Post columnist Steve Serby.

Q: As a closer, do you need to consider yourself the baddest guy on the field?

A: I think there’s certainly an element of it. It’s the competition factor. It’s you vs. that hitter, and in any given day, it’s who comes out on top.

Q: Why don’t you fear failure in that role?

A: You can’t. If you fear failure I think you’re pitching scared. You always have to be on the attack.

Q: What kind of a rush is it in the ninth inning when you’re about to close a game?

A: It’s certainly special, especially here in this ballpark with these fans. Ultimately, it’s the guys have done their job throughout their game, and you have an opportunity to end it, seal the deal.

Q: Who are other closers you admire?

A: There’s an obvious answer here (laugh) — the guy that’s up there, No. 42. Mariano [Rivera], obviously, about as automatic as it gets. … Trevor Hoffman. … I think back to some of the Pirates closers I grew up watching. I’m gonna go down the list — Matt Capps, Joel Hanrahan, Jason Grilli, Mark Melancon, all those guys. It’s a really cool list, and guys that I always kind of aspired to be like and watch.

Q: As a closer, if you could go back in baseball history and test your skills against any hitter, two outs, bottom of the ninth, who would you want to challenge?

A: I want to say Barry Bonds (smile). I don’t know how that would work out for me, but I’d love to (laugh) have that opportunity to face him. I don’t think it would go so well, but I’d go down swinging, though.

Q: What is it like being known as “The Renegade”?

A: It’s cool. I think my walkout song is obviously an ode to the Steelers, you know, third quarter, big stop song, and whenever I got traded over to the Pirates, they asked me for my walkoff song and I was like, “I don’t really have one, but I think this would be pretty cool ’cause this song gets me fired up, and it got all the yinzers going. I’m a huge Steelers fan, so why would I change it (laugh)? Every time I hear it I just think of James Harrison sacking Joe Flacco in the playoffs or something like that (laugh), so it gets me fired up.

Q: As far as your stuff is concerned, where are you?

A: I’m happy with it. I think there’s always room for improvement. I think you’re always striving to be better, but I’m in a spot now where one thing that makes me able to have success is just being on the attack with all three of my pitches, and being able to throw them for strikes and for whatever. Any pitch, any count.

Q: How do you like pitching on the New York stage?

A: It’s great. Just the Stadium as a whole and then also just the energy that New York itself brings and the fans bring, it feels like they’re in it with you on every pitch, which is certainly an awesome thing,

Q: Describe your mound mentality.

A: I’m competing every single pitch, and 100 percent convicted in each pitch. It’s just the me-versus-the-hitter type mindset.

Q: What drives you?

A: I love competing, I love being the guy on the mound, I love it’s you versus the hitter in those big spots, and coming out big for your teammates and doing it for them.

Q: You were drafted by the Padres in the 35th round in 2016. Did that motivate you? Put a chip on your shoulder, etc.?

A: Absolutely. That definitely fueled my fire, for sure, without a doubt, kind of almost playing with house money. I had no expectations when I got drafted. Even after getting drafted, it felt like such a pipe dream to be playing in the big leagues and to have that opportunity. I think the biggest thing for me was it was kind of the mindset of putting my head down and grinding each day. You look up after a couple of years now, it’s kind of crazy, I never could have imagined where it took me. Just taking it one day at a time and really just being where your feet are, again, that’s so much easier said than done.

Q: How were you able to adjust from being a starter at Lafayette College?

A: At first, it was definitely a little bit of an adjustment in terms of kind of getting ready quick, and figure out a routine that works for you. It was more or less just kind of happy to be there and happy for the opportunity to kind of prove myself and just get out to any level and just kind of roll with that.

Q: You saved 18 consecutive games in 2023.

A: I think the goal’s the same each day, is you want to come in and get the job done. I think the biggest thing with being a reliever is, you can’t get caught up on yesterday good or bad ’cause you have to show up today with the mindset of, “Today’s a new day, and you can’t let yesterday affect it,” then you’re really digging yourself a hole. It’s just about staying even keel and just trying to take the good with the bad.

Q: During the lows, confidence can be such a fragile thing. How did it affect you?

A: Absolutely, this game will humble you really quick. I’m fortunate to have great teammates, great family, my wife, great support system. But ultimately it comes down to yourself and knowing that that confidence is within and never forgetting who you are and why you’re here in the first place, and through the struggles. That way you’re able to kind of shrink those moments and make the good times longer.

Q: What is the biggest adversity you had to overcome?

A: I think the biggest thing was getting optioned earlier this year and having overcome that, really kind of swallow my pride regardless of how I thought about it, is how we’re gonna move forward, how this was gonna be the best thing for me in the long run. Obviously, it was frustrating, all the emotions that go along with it, but to be able to get past it and to be where I am now is to just make it the best thing for me.

Q: How were you able to get past it?

A: Keep going, keep grinding. I knew what I was capable of, I knew the pitcher I am, the kind of guy I was. I knew I was gonna get past it, it was just a matter of doing it.

Q: What was it like pitching for Team USA in the 2023 World Baseball Classic?

A: Wearing the USA jersey, putting it across your chest and playing for your country, you definitely felt that different energy throughout all these guys playing for their home country. What an incredible honor, and an incredible team.

Q: Your major league dream began when?

A: I think from the second you start playing Tee Ball, it’s kind of like the aspiration, you start watching ’em on TV, you go to your first big league game and just see it, watch it. … it just feels so far away for so long and then as you get a little bit older. … For me, it still felt like so far away (laugh). The second you put on the uniform and cleats and you get to play, you try to emulate those guys, you try to be like the guys you watch on TV, going to the field to watch. I think it just starts at such a young age.

Q: Were you always a pitcher?

A: I was a catcher in high school as well.

Q: Did you enjoy it?

A: I did like it, and then when I came to kind of pick an avenue, it was pitching ’cause I couldn’t hit (laugh). It made that decision easy.

Q: What kind of coach was your father?

A: It was great. I think I’ve grown to appreciate it more and more as the years go on, to have that opportunity, to have him be my coach from Tee Ball and then be coaching me in high school and then even still he’s helped me out. It’s such an awesome thing looking back now.

Q: What is your favorite memory from either the 2022 or 2023 All-Star Game?

A: I think just sharing it with my family. It’s really special that they were all able to make it. It’s just cool walking around the locker room, seeing all those names and you’re among them. It’s a really cool honor.

Q: Describe the Yankee Way.

A: A lot of history, man, and just a lot of really talented players in this clubhouse. It’s impressive. Coming over here, you expect to win every day and it’s been really special and I’m just very fortunate to be a part of it.

Q: Have you done any research on the tradition since you’ve been here?

A: Just from afar, everybody’s aware of just the unbelievable tradition and legacy that the New York Yankees have … the pinstripes. I remember the first time and we started on the road when I first got traded over here, the first time seeing the pinstripes in my locker and putting ’em on, it’s like, wow, this is really cool.

Q: The Bleacher Creatures.

A: (Laugh) They definitely bring the energy for sure, without a doubt.

Q: What are your favorite Pirates?

A: I think early on it’s Jason Kendall, Jack Wilson. And as I got older and older I had a lot of fun watching Cutch [Andrew McCutchen], A.J. Burnett and Gerrit Cole. Those were those playoff years in Pittsburgh. It was really cool to be able to play with Cutch, and now getting to play with Cole is really awesome.

Q: What do you remember about Cole?

A: The thing that stuck out to me is one of the same reasons why I liked A.J. Burnett is that intensity they brought to the mind is something I really liked, and really tried to emulate kind of in my own way, I guess. It was them versus the hitter.

Q: Favorite Steelers Super Bowl memory?

A: I think the ’06 Super Bowl [XL] when Jerome Bettis’ last year, that was one of my favorites, we had like pep rallies in school and getting all fired up. I remember going to some family friend’s house, we kind of alternated hosting each game in the playoffs. Two years ago, I got to come out of the tunnel and start the Terrible Towel wave (chuckle), that was a really cool experience as well.

Q: Favorite Penguins memory?

A: I didn’t go to a whole lot of Pens games as a kid, more recently these past couple of offseasons going down with my dad and my brother and just spend some quality time with them down there is always great. What a great run they’ve had growing up watching them when they won all those Cups. It’s been a lot of fun.

Q: What have you done for a substitute for Iron City beer?

A: (Laugh) That’s something I’m trying to figure out, how to get some of that up here. Get some other guys on it, you know? Drinking the Kool-Aid, if you will (smile).

Q: Your teammates probably have no idea what it is.

A: No, but I’d be happy to be the one to introduce ’em to it.

Q: Are you going to set up your own Primanti Bros. stand? Has anyone asked about Primanti Bros.?

A: Actually no, you’re the first one out here. I think fries on sandwiches, fries on anything are more than welcome. Bring some of that and some Iron City out here, I think just a little bit of touch of Pittsburgh out here’d be beautiful (smile).

Q: By the way, what do you think of Aaron Rodgers with your Steelers now?

A: I’m in on it! (Laugh). How ’bout that! Sorry for the Jets. I got a bunch of buddies that are Jets fans out this way, and … heck yeah (laugh).

Q: What’s fatherhood like?

A: It’s great. It’s so rewarding, and it’s been really cool just watching him grow. It’s good or bad but when you come home, you come home to you’re just dad.

Q: How old is he?

A: 10 months.

Q: How proud of you to be a three-time Roberto Clemente Award nominee?

A: Incredibly proud. Baseball provides a platform to do cool things like that and be able to give back to the community. At the very least, you put yourself being in the stands and give you flashbacks to what you would appreciate as a kid. Makes it really, really just kind of full circle.

Q: Describe Lending Hearts.

A: It’s an incredible organization. … Kids and their families dealing with pediatric cancer and going through treatments and remission … whatever it is, just giving them and their family just a day at the ballpark, they do multitudes of different activities and experiences just to break up their daily routine of treatments and just let ’em be a kid. I have really found a lot of joy in working with them, seeing how much fun they had just to be in the ballpark, and can bring them and their families.

Q: Three dinner guests?

A: [Roberto] Clemente, [Mario] Lemieux, Jerome Bettis.

Q: Favorite movie?

A: “Batman.”

Q: Favorite meal?

A: A big old porterhouse and some mashed potatoes and some butter cake for dessert.

Q: Have you found a great restaurant here?

A: I haven’t explored too much, but one of my favorites that I’ve been when I visited New York whether it be here or the Mets, went to Don Angie. That was special, and tough to beat.

Q: Did you have the lasagna?

A: Oh, yeah.

Q: Any other New York City things?

A: When I was in college, actually, Lafayette-Lehigh played in the 150th meeting of their football team here, so we came up and then I think during that trip I went up in the Empire State Building.

Q: So you’re not afraid of heights?

A: A little bit, actually, it was kind of unsettling.

Q: Favorite Lafayette College memory?

A: I really think coming here was one of ’em. I think coming here for that football game was really cool. I had a great group of guys, a lot of awesome teammates who I’m still close with and they all work and live in the city now so I get to see them a little bit more often.

Q: What are you most proud of?

A: I was very blessed to play for the team I grew up watching and now play for the (chuckle) New York Yankees, it’s unbelievable just to have these opportunities is just so special.

Q: Your message to Yankees fans about you.

A: I think what you see is what you get. I’m gonna come out attacking guys and I’m gonna give everything I have no matter what. And just going right after guys,

Q: Winning a World Series.

A: That’s why you play the game. You want to be a part of a World Series team. … New York is on a whole ’nother level, just the storied history and the impact it has here is really special.

Q: Can this team win one?

A: Absolutely, there’s no doubt in my mind. I think everybody shares the same aspirations, and I think we certainly have the talent to do so and now it’s just taking it one day at a time and doing it.

Q: Personal goals?

A: World Series.