From Will Clark to Will Bednar, the Mississippi State baseball team and the San Francisco Giants continue to form a connection.

Bednar, the Bulldogs’ ace right-hander, came off the board Sunday evening in the 2021 MLB First-Year Player Draft, selected by the Giants with the No. 14 pick in the first round.

“It’s awesome,” Bednar told MLB Network from his house in Pennsylvania, minutes after he fielded the phone call and embraced his father Andy and his mother Sue in turn. “It’s truly electric.”

The right-hander cashed in after a historic postseason run, starring in the College World Series as the Bulldogs claimed the first national title in school history. He delivered a 15-strikeout start against Texas in Mississippi State’s opening contest and held Vanderbilt hitless over six innings on short rest in the winner-take-all championship game June 30.

And he’ll be rewarded handsomely. The No. 14 pick carries a slot value of $4,036,800, although Bednar might receive a larger or smaller signing bonus.

But he told MLB Network’s Harold Reynolds his rising draft stock during the Bulldogs’ Omaha run wasn’t really on his mind.

“I was just trying to lock in with us trying to win a national championship, just kind of taking it a game at a time and doing whatever I could to help the team,” Bednar said.

Not only did he help the Bulldogs, but he alone likely made the difference between Mississippi State coming home with nothing or coming out on top for the first time. 

Bednar cemented his name in MSU history, just like Clark, who was a five-time MLB All-Star while playing for the Giants from 1986 to 1993. Half of the “Thunder and Lightning” duo was on the podium Sunday night in Denver, handing out a San Francisco draft card that bore his first name and the name of his alma mater.

Bednar becomes the 18th first-round pick in Mississippi State history, following infielders Justin Foscue and Jordan Westburg last summer. Foscue was drafted by the Texas Rangers with pick No. 14, while Westburg was selected by the Baltimore Orioles at No. 30 in the Competitive Balance A round. Ethan Small was the No. 28 overall pick to the Milwaukee Brewers in 2019, while Brent Rooker went in the first round in 2017 and Dakota Hudson did so in 2016. 

Bednar joins a Giants farm system that ranks No. 11 in baseball, according to MLB.com. San Francisco has four top 100 prospects: Marco Luciano, Joey Bart, Heliot Ramos and Hunter Bishop. All four of them are hitters, meaning Bednar could already be the best arm in the Giants’ system.

And while the College World Series Most Outstanding Player won’t join his brother David, a reliever for the Pittsburgh Pirates, he’s headed to one of the top teams in the major leagues. At 57-32, San Francisco has the best record in the big leagues heading into the All-Star Break.

Bednar finished his sophomore season with a 9-1 record and a 3.12 ERA. He struck out 139 batters and issued 26 walks in 92.1 innings.

Bruns picked by Dodgers at No. 29

Mississippi State commit Maddux Bruns was selected by the Los Angeles Dodgers with the No. 29 pick, the final selection of the first round.

The left-hander from UMS-Wright Prep in Alabama has power stuff but struggled with his command, ESPN Baseball Insider Kiley McDaniel told The Dispatch.

Day 2 of the draft begins at noon Monday with rounds 2-10 to be completed. Left-hander Christian MacLeod, outfielder Tanner Allen, right-hander Eric Cerantola and infielder Kamren James are several Bulldogs whose names could be called. Signees James Wood, Jordan McCants and Andrew Walling are also likely to be selected.

Theo DeRosa reports on Mississippi State sports for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter at @Theo_DeRosa.