Josh Bell
Draft Position – 2nd rd, 61 overall in the 2011 MLB Amateur Draft. Signed the largest signing bonus in Pittsburgh Pirates draft history ($5 million)
Rise through the minor league system: Missed most of 2012 due to injury but bounced back and progressed nicely before reaching the majors in 2016.
Where is Bell now?
After a brief four game appearance at the big league level, Bell was optioned back to Indianapolis. During his four games with the Pirates, Bell went two for two, including a monstrous grand slam on July 9th against the Chicago Cubs. Bell’s slash line sits at 1.000/1.000/.2.500. Not bad.
Why is Bell untouchable?
Bell is a switch hitter who started as an outfielder and was transitioned to first base due to need at the position and the stellar players already occupying the outfield for the Pirates.
In his brief time with the club, Bell showed why so many teams were angry that they passed over him in the first round of the 2011 draft after he sent letters to all 30 clubs indicating he planned to go to college.
Fortunately, the Pirates took a chance and drafted him and he could be occupying first base sooner rather than later. It has been a long time since the Pirates had a home grown first baseman who can hit from power (let alone power from both sides of the plate), so it’s hard to believe he’ll be moved at the deadline.
There has also been discussions regarding the National League adopting the Designated Hitter and Bell would certainly profile as a good option if that were to come to fruition. While the American League teams have been building their rosters with the DH in mind for year, the Senior Circuit teams would need to start considering it before it actually happens. A switch hitter with good power on both sides of the plate would be a player to consider for that role.
Even if the DH does not come to the NL any time soon, Bell is viewed as the team’s starting first baseman, in the near future, which could be sometime in the second half of 2016 or in a full time role in 2017.
Our next Untouchable completed a remarkable recovery story in 2016.
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