Pittsburgh Pirates' David Bednar Named National League All-Star as Replacement

Replacing Los Angeles Dodgers star Clayton Kershaw in the MLB All-Star Game is Pittsburgh Pirates closer David Bednar.

With Clayton Kershaw currently injured and unable to play, Pittsburgh Pirates closer David Bednar has been named to the National League All-Star team as a replacement.

David Bednar joins a stacked #AllStarGame pitching staff.

The @Pirates closer replaces Clayton Kershaw on the NL roster. pic.twitter.com/8hoMwHPO8B

— MLB (@MLB) July 4, 2023

It will be the second straight All-Star appearance for Bednar, who is one of the top relievers in the National League. He's having another great season this year for the Pirates, going 2-0 with a 1.44 ERA. He's got 16 saves and has appeared in 31 games, striking out 37 over 31.1 innings.

Lifetime, he's 8-7 with a 2.68 ERA. He's recorded 38 saves in his career.

He's a consistent presence in the back end of the bullpen for manager Derek Shelton and will join fellow Pirates pitcher Mitch Keller at the All-Star Game in Seattle. Shelton will also go and coach on the National League squad.

The 28-year-old was a 35th-round draft choice of the Padres back in 2016 out of Lafayette (PA).

Entering play on Tuesday, the Pirates are 39-45 and in fourth place in the National League Central. They are 7.0 games back of the first-place Reds.

The Major League Baseball All-Star Game is Tuesday, July 11 at T-Mobile Park.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS DURING ALL-STAR WEEK in Seattle, per MLB.com:

Friday, July 7: HBCU Swingman Classic (7:30 p.m. ET)

Saturday, July 8: All-Star Celebrity Softball Game and MLB Futures Game (Futures Game 4 p.m., softball game after)

Sunday, July 9: MLB Draft, Rounds 1-2 (7 p.m. ET)

Monday, July 10: Home Run Derby (8 p.m. ET)

Tuesday, July 11: All-Star Game (8 p.m. ET)

Follow Fastball on FanNation in social media

Continue to follow our Fastball on FanNation coverage on social media by LIKING us on Facebook and by following us on Twitter @FastballFN.You can also subscribe to "The Payoff Pitch" podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.