Josh Bell 1B/DH WSH Fri 7/15/16 11:00 PM
Josh Bell
1B/DH WSH
Bell pinch-hit for the fourth consecutive game Friday, drawing a walk against Stephen Strasburg.
EDGE Analysis
Bell has yet to play in the field, even though Friday's game presented a good opportunity for him to get his feet wet with the Bucs down by four runs in the eighth. The team will need to clear a roster spot for Saturday's starter Gerrit Cole. Bell will either be sent to Triple-A or Gregory Polanco (hamstring) will go on the DL.
Josh Bell 1B/DH WSH Fri 7/15/16 6:46 PM
Josh Bell
1B/DH WSH
Bell figures to potentially come off the bench as a pinch hitter Friday against the Nationals.
EDGE Analysis
The team will likely decide his future Saturday, when it needs to clear a roster spot for the returning Gerrit Cole. Bell will stay on the roster if Gregory Polanco (hamstring) is placed on the disabled list, otherwise he'll head back to Triple-A.
Josh Bell 1B/DH WSH Thu 7/14/16 10:31 AM
Josh Bell
1B/DH WSH
Despite an electric weekend debut, the Pirates are unwillingly to commit to Bell at first base because of his defense, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports.
EDGE Analysis
He went 2-for-2 with a walk and a grand slam against the Cubs in three pinch-hitting opportunities but did not play in the field. Pirates GM Neal Huntington is looking for Bell to become a "ninth-inning defender." There was some talk that Pittsburgh could put him in right field Sunday with Gregory Polanco (hamstring) ailing, but manager Clint Hurdle didn't think that'd be fair after two years away from the outfield. The team has yet to reveal whether Bell, who's already made 10 errors at first base for Triple-A Indianapolis, will start the second half in the big leagues. Polanco's status will likely determine whether Bell remains with the Bucs or fights for the Triple Crown at Indy.
Josh Bell 1B/DH WSH Mon 7/11/16 9:37 AM
Josh Bell
1B/DH WSH
Bell walked and scored a run as a pinch hitter in Sunday's loss to the Cubs.
EDGE Analysis
While he didn't get a start over the weekend, Bell reached base and scored all three times he was called upon to pinch hit, rapping out a single Friday before launching a grand slam for his first big league homer Saturday. The Pirates' first baseman of the future might get sent back down after the All-Star break to make room for a pitcher, but it's not for lack of trying on his part.
Josh Bell 1B/DH WSH Sun 7/10/16 11:04 AM
Josh Bell
1B/DH WSH
Bell will not play in front of John Jaso at first base, and will likely be going back to Triple-A Indianapolis after Sunday's matchup with the Cubs, Travis Sawchik of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports.
EDGE Analysis
Manager Clint Hurdle said Sunday that Bell wasn't going to take over first base or even play in front of Jaso on a regular basis, so the 23-year-old slugger will likely go back to Indianapolis over the All-Star break. Bell is not in the lineup for Sunday's series finale against the Cubs as Jaso is slotted in at first.
Josh Bell 1B/DH WSH Sat 7/9/16 4:05 PM
Josh Bell
1B/DH WSH
Bell is not in the lineup for Saturday's tilt with the Cubs, Travis Sawchik of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports.
EDGE Analysis
As expected, Bell is beginning the weekend out of the lineup as David Freese gets the start at first base and bats second. Bell, one of the majors' biggest prospects, connected for a single in his first big league at-bat and then came around to score. It's tough to say whether Bell will stick around after the All-Star Break but given he slashed .324/.407/.535 with Pittsburgh's Triple-A affiliate this season, it's going to be hard to keep his talents from the majors much longer.
Josh Bell 1B/DH WSH Fri 7/8/16 5:20 PM
Josh Bell
1B/DH WSH
The Pirates plan to have Bell serve as a bench bat this weekend against the Cubs, Stephen J. Nesbitt of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
EDGE Analysis
Bell is not in the lineup Friday and it sounds like he could stick on the bench Saturday and Sunday, as the Pirates reportedly want to wait until the break to evaluate their roster. With lefty Jon Lester due up for Chicago on Saturday, it's always possible the Pirates could reverse course and give Bell the nod over John Jaso at first base, but it sounds like a start this weekend for Bell is far from guaranteed.
Josh Bell 1B/DH WSH Fri 7/8/16 3:31 PM
Josh Bell
1B/DH WSH
Bell is not in the lineup for Friday's game against the Cubs.
EDGE Analysis
Bell got the call to the major leagues Friday but the Pirates will not immediately slot him into the lineup, instead giving the nod at first base to John Jaso once again. It's a little surprising considering Bell was raking with Triple-A Indianapolis and Jaso is 1-for-14 lifetime against Friday's starter Jake Arrieta. Regardless, Bell figures to get the nod Saturday against lefty Jon Lester and it seems unlikely he was brought up to fill merely a short-end platoon role.
Josh Bell 1B/DH WSH Fri 7/8/16 11:54 AM
Josh Bell
1B/DH WSH
Bell will be called up from Triple-A Indianapolis Friday, Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports reports.
EDGE Analysis
Bell has been dominating at the plate with Indianapolis, leading the club with 53 RBI and 13 home runs while posting a .324/.407/.535 line. With John Jaso struggling to produce at the plate over the last month, Bell will likely see time at first base when he makes his MLB debut. However, while he's spent much of the 2016 campaign at first, Bell has experience playing third base as well.
Josh Bell 1B/DH WSH Thu 5/26/16 4:20 PM
Josh Bell
1B/DH WSH
Bell, 23, is batting .382 with one home run and six RBI over his last 10 games for Triple-A Indianapolis.
EDGE Analysis
The refrain remains the same for Bell. He is batting .297/.402/.458 on the season, but has just four home runs in 43 games. The Pirates are currently playing John Jaso at first base, and though he has no more power than Bell, Jaso is batting .303 with a .371 OBP. As such, until an injury or a trade occurs, Bell will continue to bide his time at Triple-A.