JOSHUA EVAN BELL...Graduated from Dallas Jesuit College Preparatory School...Was named the Gatorade Texas Player of the Year, Baseball America All-American, USA Today All-USA First-Team selection, Louisville Slugger All-American, Rawlings All-American First Team, Texas 5A All-State First Team and one of the Top 10 High School players by Sports Illustrated as a senior...His dad, Earnest, grew up in Houston and received a scholarship to play football at (Southern University)…He was a wide receiver and ended up tearing his knee twice. He said if he ever had a son, he wouldn’t want him to play football, so Josh grew up playing basketball, baseball, and soccer...At the age of 4-5, his dad would sit on a bucket and put a ball on a string. Josh would hit, then he would flip him around, change his hands and he’d hit. He would switch hitting righty and lefty every at-bat through Little League from the age of 5 until 12 or 13...Committed to the University of Texas on a baseball scholarship and wrote a letter to the Commissioner of Baseball, asking teams not to draft him and that he’d be ready in a few years. Then the Pirates drafted him in the 2nd round, changing his mind…Coincidentally, the Pirates were his first Little League team when he was four years old...Josh’s mom, Myrtle, is a diversity professor at the University of Texas at Arlington, and his sister, Joy, is a communications professor at Webster University in St. Louis...Was HS classmates with PGA Tour golfer Jordan Spieth.
2022
Collected career-highs in hits (147) and walks (81) on his way to winning his first career Silver Slugger Award (DH) between Washington and San Diego...Was a 2019 NL All-Star and competed in the Home Run Derby in Cleveland...Finished third in the 2017 National League Rookie of the Year voting...Was Pittsburgh’s Minor League Player of the Year in 2014 and 2016…Voted the “Good Guy” Award by D.C. media after the 2021 season…Since 2017 he ranked fourth among ML switch-hitters in HR (127), total bases (1303), extra-base hits (294) and second in walks (385)…In 2022, finished sixth in the National League in walks and eighth in on-base pct. (.362)…His 81 walks were third among NL first basemen as he ranks seventh among active 1B in walks (406) since debuting in 2016...Started the year with Washington, compiling three on-base streaks of at least 12 games, including 15 straight from June 15-July 1…At the time of the trade to San Diego (Aug. 2) he ranked fifth in the NL in average (.301), fourth in on-base pct. (.384), seventh in OPS (.877) and sixth in hits (113)…Batted .322 (28-for-87) with five 2B, one 3B, and seven HR against AL clubs (.835 OPS) and for his career has hit .307 (138-for449) with 29 2B, 22 HR and 76 RBI in 121 games vs. the AL (.378/.532/.910)…Career .314 (64-for-204) hitter vs. the AL Central (.875 OPS)…On the year he made 120 starts at first base and 31 starts at DH...Batted .250 (9-for-36) in 10 games in the postseason for SD with two HR & five RBI in his first taste of October play...Hit .353 in the NLCS vs. Philadelphia.
2021
In his first season in Washington, Bell hit .261 with 24 doubles, one triple, 27 homers, 88 RBI, 65 walks and 75 runs scored in 144 games...He posted a .347 on-base percentage and a .476 slugging percentage along the way...Led Nationals hitters with 52 extra-base hits... Ranked second on the club with 27 homers...Entering play on May 13, Bell was hitting .133/.198/.289 through his first 23 games of the season...From May 13 through the end of the season, he hit .287/.375/.513 with 20 doubles, one triple, 24 home runs, 78 RBI, 59 walks and 59 runs scored in 121 games...His .513 slugging percentage ranked 17th among National League hitters over this span...On the season, Bell ranked 11th in the National League with an 11.4% walk rate (up from 9.9% in 2020) and ranked 17th in the National League with a 17.8% strikeout rate (down from 26.5% in 2020)...From Sept. 5 through the end of the season, Bell recorded 26 walks and just 13 strikeouts in 118 plate appearances... Hit go-ahead grand slam, June 23 at Philadelphia (Hale), his first grand slam since his first career home run in 2016...Hit his 100th career homer on July 20 vs. Miami (Okert).
2020
Hit .226 with three doubles, eight home runs, 22 RBI, 22 walks and 22 runs scored in 57 games...Finished the season strong, going 19-for-66 (.288) with a double, four homers, eight RBI, nine walks and nine runs scored in 21 games from Sept. 6 through Sept. 27...Recorded a 10-game hitting streak from Sept. 6-16...Hit .455 (15-for-33) with a double, three homers, four RBI, five walks and five runs scored during the streak.
2019
Was selected to his first National League All-Star team; started the game as the designated hitter and went 1-for-2 at the plate... Participated in the All-Star Game Home Run Derby and hit 18 in the first round against Ronald Acuna, Jr., who hit 23...His 60 extra-base hits prior to the All-Star break were the most-ever by a National League player and tied with Frank Thomas (60 with the White Sox in 1994) for the fourth-most by any Major League player; Edgar Martinez had 66 with Seattle in 1996, Chris Davis had 64 with Baltimore in 2013 and Reggie Jackson had 63 with Oakland in 1969...His 27 home runs at the break set a record for the most by a Pirates switch hitter prior to the All-Star break (previous high was 19 by Bobby Bonilla in 1990) and were the second-most ever by an N.L. switch hitter at the break, trailing only Houston's Lance Berkman (29 in 2002)...His 84 RBI at the break were the second-most in team history behind Willie Stargell's 87 in 1971 and the most by a National League player since Albert Pujols had 87 with St. Louis in 2009...Tied for ninth in the N.L. in homers, ranked sixth in RBI and tied for sixth in extra-base hits (77)...His .336 average with runners in scoring position ranked eighth...His 37 home runs were the most by a Pirates player since Brian Giles hit 38 in 2002 and his 116 RBI were the most since Giles had 123 in 2000...Hit 33 home runs as a first baseman; one shy of the club record for home runs hit from that position (Dick Stuart hit 34 in 1961)...Also set single-season club record with four homers hit as the designated hitter...Made his third straight start at first base on Opening Day; the first Bucco to do so since Adam LaRoche made three straight OD starts at first between 2007-09...Hit a 474-foot home run over the batters eye at PNC Park on 4/7; the fourth-longest in the 19 seasons of play at the ballpark...Had his first career two-homer game on 5/4 vs. Oakland...Hit safely in a career-high 15 straight games between 4/28 and 5/15, going 26-for-61 (.426) with eight doubles, six homers and 21 RBI...Hit a 472-foot home run into the Allegheny River on 5/8 vs. Texas; just the fourth player in PNC Park history to reach the river on the fly... Homered twice again on 5/14 at Arizona, hitting a 460' blast to center field in the fifth inning and a 446' shot to right-center in the eighth...Became the second Pirate in the last 100 years, along with Dale Long in 1956, to have at least 12 home runs and 39 RBI through the team's first 39 games...Was named N.L. Player-of-the-Week for the week of 5/13-19...Reached the Allegheny River on the fly once again with his 454' blast on 5/22 vs. Colorado...Tied the club record for most home runs (17) through the club's first 51 games - last accomplished by Willie Stargell in 1973...Led all Major League players in total bases (94), hits (46), extra-base hits (24) and RBI (31) during the month of May...Also shared the lead with 12 home runs, which tied the club record for most hit during the month of May (also Jason Bay in May of 2006)...Set the club record for most total bases (94) during ANY month of the season, previous mark was held by Hall-of-Famer Ralph Kiner (92 in June of 1947)...Produced the most total bases (94) by any Major League hitter during the month of May since Hall-of-Famer Willie Mays had 102 in 1958...Became the third player in National League history to produce at least 12 doubles and 12 home runs in any calendar month of the baseball season, joining Hall-of-Famer Hank Aaron (12 doubles and 12 homers) in July of 1961 and Hall-of-Famer Frank Robinson (12 doubles and 13 homers) in July of 1961...Tied the club record for most extra-base hits (24) in ANY month of a baseball season; Hall-of-Famer Paul Waner established the club record with 24 extra-base hits in June of 1927 and matched it with 24 in August of 1928...Was named N.L. Player of the Month for the month of May...Collected his 50th extra-base hit in his 71st game on 6/18 - the fastest Pirates player (since 1900) to collect 50 XBH (previous mark was 74 games by Paul Waner in 1932)...Became the 11th different Pittsburgh player to homer three times in a game on 7/1 vs. Chicago; also had a career-high seven RBI and 13 total bases...Joined Willie Stargell (5/22/68), Roberto Clemente (5/15/67), Dick Stuart (6/30/60) and Ralph Kiner (7/18/51) as the only players in team history with three homers and seven RBI in the same game...Had the most extra-base hits (63) in club history after 100 games; previous high was 61 by Adam Comorosky in 1930 and Kiki Cuyler in 1925...Became the fifth different player in Pirates history to record at least five multi-home run games in a season, joining Ralph Kiner (10 in 1947, seven in 1949, six in 1950, and five in 1948), Frank Thomas (five in 1958), Willie Stargell (five in 1971) and Brian Giles (five in 1999)...Was named the Pirates 2019 Heart and Hustle Award winner, presented annually by the MLBPA...Missed the last 14 games of the season with a left groin strain; suffered while running the bases on 9/13 at Wrigley Field... Reached base safely in each of his last 17 games...Hit .302 (102-for-338) with 63 extra-base hits and 84 RBI in 88 games prior to the All-Star break and .233 (44-for-189) with 17 extra-base hits and 32 RBI in 55 games after the break.
2018
Set career highs in walks and doubles...Led the Pirates in walks...Made 137 appearances (135 starts) at first base...Was Pittsburgh's most-used starter (65 times) in the cleanup position; hit .233 (57-for-245) with five homers and 34 RBI from the fourth spot...Went 5-for-10 as a pinch hitter; is 14-for-34 (.412) in his career...Made his second straight start at first base on Opening Day; the first Bucco to do so since Adam LaRoche made three straight starts there between 2007-09...Hit safely in each of his first six games (9-for-24, .375) and reached base safely in his first 12 thru 4/12...Hit .217 in April and .280 in May...Batted second in the starting lineup for the first time on 6/25 at New York (NL) and went 1-for-4 with a home run and two RBI...Was the leadoff batter on 7/6 vs. Philadelphia and went 1-for-5 (his second career start batting first)...Went 2-for-13 in three starts from the leadoff spot...Appeared in each of the first 89 games thru 7/8 before sitting out the action on 7/9...Fell a homer shy of hitting for the cycle while going 4-for-4 on 7/13 vs. Milwaukee...Had a walkoff double in the 10th inning to beat Milwaukee on 7/15...Hit .329 (23-for-70) in 22 games during the month of July...Matched his season and career high with four hits on 7/21 at Cincinnati...Suffered a left oblique strain on 7/27 vs. New York (NL) and was placed on the 10-day D.L. the following day...Was reinstated on 8/8... Hit his two home runs batting right-handed on 8/9 at San Francisco (off Andrew Suarez) and 8/11 at San Francisco (Ty Blach)...Did not collect another RBI until homering again on 9/7 vs. Miami (went 19 games without an RBI between 8/12 and 9/3)...Hit safely in 12 of his 13 games between 9/7-22, going 19-for-46 (.413) with five doubles, three home runs, a .509 on-base percentage and a 1.226 OPS...Reached base safely in 20 of his last 21 games, producing a .427 OBP.
2017
Set National League record for most home runs by a switch-hitting rookie and fell one shy of the Major League mark held by Eddie Murray (1977) and Tony Clark (1996)...Led N.L. rookies in hits and walks and tied for first in doubles...Ranked second among N.L. rookies in RBI, runs, triples, total bases (256) and extra-base hits (58)...Tied for second in home runs...Hit .301 (44-for-146) and produced 69 RBI while batting with runners in scoring position; the average and RBI total led all National League rookies...Tied for fourth among all N.L. players in games played...Tied club record for most home runs by a rookie (also Jason Bay in 2004)...Became one of only eight rookies in team history to collect 90 RBI; his 90 RBI were the most by a Pittsburgh rookie since Maurice Van Robays' record 116 in 1940...Became just the second switch-hitter in team history to hit at least 25 home runs in one season, joining Bobby Bonilla, who hit 32 in 1990...His 159 games played were the second-most among all Pittsburgh rookies behind Johnny Ray's 162 in 1982...His 16 home runs and 35 extra-base hits prior to the All-Star break were the most ever by a Pirates rookie (since first All-Star Game was played in 1933)... Ranked fifth among N.L. first basemen with 147 games played at that position; ranked sixth in total chances (1235) and tied for third in double plays (116)...Hit .259 (109-for-421) with 18 home runs and 69 RBI while batting left-handed and .242 (31-for-128) with eight home runs and 21 RBI while batting right-handed...Was the Opening Day starter at first base...Homered in back-to-back games on 4/19 at St. Louis and 4/21 vs. New York (AL)...Connected off LHP CC Sabathia for a home run on 4/21 - his first career extra-base hit off a lefthander...Hit his second homer batting right-handed on 4/26 vs. Chicago - off Jon Lester...Recorded his first big league stolen base on 4/30 at Miami...Bounced a home run into the Allegheny River on 5/5 vs. Milwaukee...Collected an extra base hit in seven straight games between 5/12-19; the longest streak by a Pirates player since Josh Harrison also recorded an extra base hit in seven straight games from July 27 to August 2, 2014 and the longest by a Pittsburgh rookie since Neil Walker did so in seven straight from August 25 to September 1, 2010... Homered four times in a six-game span between 5/12-18...Began the month of June by homering in back-to-back games on 6/2-3 at New York (NL)...Collected his first Major League triple on 6/10 vs. Miami...Homered and tripled on 6/16 vs. Chicago...Connected off St. Louis' Seung Hwan Oh for first career walkoff home run on 7/14; a three-run blast that broke a 2-2 tie in the ninth inning...Had a career-high four hits and tied career high (third time) with four RBI on 7/21 at Colorado...Produced his second career pinch-hit home run on 7/30 at San Diego...Had another four-hit game on 8/25 at Cincinnati...Hit .323 (30-for-93) with 21 RBI in 28 games during the month of August...Tied career high with four RBI on 9/4 vs. Chicago (NL)...Finished third in the BBWAA voting for National League Rookie-of-the-Year behind Cody Bellinger and Paul DeJong
2016
Entered season ranked by Baseball America and MLB.com as Pittsburgh's third-best prospect...Also ranked by MLB.com as the second-best first base prospect behind Houston's A.J. Reed...Spent majority of campaign with Triple-A Indianapolis...Was named Pittsburgh's Minor League Player-of-the-Year...Was selected to the International League's mid- and post-season All-Star teams...Captured MLBPipeline.com's Player-of-the-Year award for the Pirates...Ranked fourth among International League leaders in OBP (.382) and was 10th in batting (.295)...Hit a grand slam while hitting for the cycle on 4/22 at Louisville...Was named the league's Player-of-the-Week for the week of 4/18-24...Batted .364 with nine doubles, seven homers and 26 RBI in 30 games during the month of June...Led all International League players with 77 total bases in June...Was leading the league in hits (101), extra-base hits (36), total bases (167) and OPS (.942) when he was recalled by Pittsburgh on 7/8...Made Major League debut as a pinch hitter on 7/8 vs. Chicago and singled off Jake Arrieta on the first pitch he saw...Connected off Chicago's Adam Warren for a pinch-hit grand slam in his second at bat on 7/9 ...Received walks in his next two big league plate appearances before being optioned back to Indianapolis on 7/16...Hit .211 (23-for-109) with a homer and seven RBI in 31 Triple-A games between 7/17 and 8/19...Hit .330 with 10 home runs vs. RHP and .310 with three homers vs. LHP while playing with Indianapolis...Was recalled a second time by the Pirates on 8/20...Made his first Major League start (first base) on 8/21 and went 1-for-3 with an RBI...Reached base safely in 13 of his first 14 big league games, going 11-for-27 (.407) with nine walks and a .541 OBP thru 8/29...Produced a .315 (17-for-54) average while batting with runners on base...Served as the leadoff batter for the first time in his career on 9/30 at St. Louis and went hitless in four at bats...Made 19 starts at first base and 14 in right field while playing with the Pirates; committed three errors (all fielding) while playing first base and had one fielding error while playing right field
2015
Began season ranked by Baseball America as the organization's fourth-best prospect and the 64th-best prospect in baseball...Was also recognized as the "Best Hitter For Average" in the Pirates system...Was tabbed by MLB.com as the best first base prospect in minor league baseball...Batted .317 (155-for-489) with 24 doubles, nine triples, seven home runs, 78 RBI and an .838 OPS in a career-high 131 minor league games with Double-A Altoona (96 games) and Triple-A Indianapolis (35 games)...Set career highs in games, hits, triples and RBI...Was named to the Eastern League mid-season All-Star team...Also represented the Pirates at the MLB Futures Game in Cincinnati on 7/12; was the starting first baseman and went 1-for-2 with a home run...Ranked third among Pittsburgh farmhands in batting and second in RBI...Spent his first season playing exclusively as a first baseman; made 84 starts there with Altoona and 31 with Indianapolis...Began season with Altoona and won Player-ofthe-Week honors for the week of 4/27-5/3 after hitting .615 (16-for-26) with three triples, 11 RBI and a 1.574 OPS in six games...Was ranked fifth in the Eastern League in batting when he was promoted to Indianapolis on 7/31...Made Triple-A debut on 8/1 and delivered the walkoff single in the 13th inning of Indy's 6-5 victory over Charlotte...His .394 average from 8/5 thru the end of the regular season was the second-highest in the International League...Hit .379 (11-for-29) with a homer, seven RBI and a .974 OPS in eight postseason games...Capped a three-run rally with a walkoff single in the ninth inning in Game Four of the Governor's Cup Championship vs. Columbus on 9/18.
