Pittsburgh Pirates closer David Bednar had his fair share of struggles last season.
The Pirates looked like a decent team through the first four months of the season, but began to decline midway through the year when Bednar’s struggles were exacerbated.
That’s why Bleacher Report writer Zachary D. Rymer named Bednar the team’s X-Factor going into the 2025 campaign.
If the Pirates are going to contend this season, it will be on the strength of their pitching staff. Yet even if Paul Skenes and friends do their job in the rotation, the Bucs simply can’t suffer a repeat of the 29 blown saves they had last year.