Josh Bell has leveled up as a league-beating slugger

The very best factor about subsequent week’s Dwelling Run Derby on the All-Star Recreation could also be Josh Bell getting some recognition on the nationwide stage. It isn’t simple nowadays getting consideration enjoying for the Pittsburgh Pirates, a staff caught in .500-ish mediocrity ever since a 98-win season in 2015 led to a wild-card loss to the Cubs, however Bell’s 2019 numbers mustn’t go unnoticed and I believe he’ll win over many new followers with some mammoth blasts within the competitors.

On this 12 months of the souped-up rabbit ball, it is simple to be suspect of among the huge energy numbers and attribute particular person enchancment to the baseball. In any case, simply return to 1930 or 1950 or 1987 — different well-known juiced-ball seasons — and you may see among the greatest fluke seasons in main league historical past. Bell’s enchancment, nevertheless, seems legit. He hits the ball onerous, he hits the ball far and he seems to be like a participant who lastly understands his swing and his energy.

Within the Pirates’ ridiculous 18-5 win over the Cubs on Monday, Bell hit his 23rd, 24th and 25th house runs, a part of a Four-for-6 night time with seven RBIs. And none of these house runs got here off Cubs infielder Daniel Descalso, compelled into mop-up obligation late within the recreation. Bell’s three house runs:

• First inning off Adbert Alzolay, 109.2 mph exit velocity, 402 toes, off an Zero-1 95 mph fastball;

• Second inning off Alzolay, 94.6 mph, 367 toes, off a first-pitch curveball;

• Eighth inning off Craig Kimbrel, 109.Three mph, 404 toes, off a 2-1 96 mph fastball.

Oh, he additionally singled (105.Eight mph) and flied out (98.9 mph). Actually, his solely weak contact of the night time got here on a groundout towards Descalso. In different phrases, it was an excellent night time. He wasn’t the one Pirates hero on this night time. Adam Frazier went 5-for-6 with FOUR doubles, making the Pirates the primary staff for the reason that 1950 Purple Sox (and simply the second staff since 1900) to have a participant with three house runs and one other with 4 doubles in the identical recreation. Colin Moran additionally went 5-for-5, making the Pirates the primary staff with two five-hit gamers since C.J. Cron and Carlos Perez did it for the Angels in 2016.

The Pirates completed the sport with 12 extra-base hits, their second-most as a franchise within the live-ball period (since 1920) — though not distinctive to 2019 because the Twins have had video games with 13 and 12 extra-base hits earlier on this season.

As for Bell, he hit 26 house runs as a rookie 2017, however dropped off to 12 in 2018 in a disappointing .261/.357/.411 season. An enormous key has been a extra aggressive strategy. Contemplate a few of his swing metrics:

2 Associated

• He has a swing fee of 49.6 %, up from 43 % in 2018.

• His swing fee of 79 % on pitches within the strike zone is up from 67.9 %.

• His swing fee of 40.2 % on the primary pitch is up from 27.Eight %. He has eight first-pitch house runs.

Bell had a great stroll fee in 2017 and 2018, however his passivity on the plate appeared to work towards him at occasions. Now he is leaping at pitchers earlier within the rely and it has paid off with a a lot greater common exit velocity and hard-hit fee. It has lower into his stroll fee a bit, however clearly the brand new strategy has paid off.

A motive to purchase into his first half: It isn’t simply the house runs. He additionally has 29 doubles and three triples, giving him an obscene 57 extra-base hits already:

Josh Bell: 57 extra-base hits (Three HR tonight) is most by a Nationwide League participant by way of the staff’s first 83 video games of a season since Henry Aaron (57) in 1959

— Christopher Kamka (@ckamka) July 2, 2019

In different phrases, this man is smoking the ball all around the subject. He is on tempo for 112 extra-base hits, which might be the third-highest complete of all-frickin’-time — the one gamers with greater than 107 are two dudes named Ruth (119 in 1921) and Gehrig (117 in 1927).

So even because the Pirates seem headed to a different .500-ish season, if that is who Bell is and shall be, he is clearly going to be the focus of a greater Buccos ballclub sooner or later. You may hopefully embody rookies Bryan Reynolds (.351/.415/.541) and Kevin Newman (.327/.372/.482) in that class as nicely, giving the Pirates their greatest basis on offense since these playoff groups from 2013 to 2015. They will want to seek out one other energy bat or two to assist Bell and the beginning rotation has been a disappointment — even past Jameson Taillon ‘s harm — so it isn’t precisely clear if that future could possibly be 2020 or a 12 months or two past that.

AP Picture/Gene J. Puskar

For the current, nevertheless, the Pirates have a brand new star. Be certain to not miss him subsequent week.

Here is Bell’s first-inning house run:

Extra of this subsequent Monday.#BELLieve pic.twitter.com/srsXebjHdN

— Pirates (@Pirates) July 1, 2019

And here is Frazier going off:

He collected 🖐 hits tonight.
That is the @A_Fraz12 hit reel.

Take pleasure in 🎥: pic.twitter.com/t2Tkzo8NQJ

— Pirates (@Pirates) July 2, 2019

Yelich hits No. 30: MLB house run chief Christian Yelich hit No. 30 within the ninth inning of the Brewers’ Eight-6 win over the Reds, considered one of three house runs for the Brew Crew (the Reds additionally hit three). This one was uncommon: It was the primary house run of 2019 for Yelich on an Zero-2 pitch and simply the fifth of his profession. Do you wish to see it? In fact you do:

#30 for the MVP! #ThisIsMyCrew pic.twitter.com/iMEC6tJJEb

— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) July 2, 2019

OK, not precisely his most spectacular of the season. Actually, I am not precisely certain how he hit that one out. Then once more, here is Eugenio Suarez one-handing a house run earlier within the recreation:

Geno for the lead! #BornToBaseball pic.twitter.com/imN30cFVK3

— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) July 2, 2019

Yelich is the primary NL participant with 30 house runs earlier than the All-Star break since Albert Pujols in 2009.

McKay makes hitting debut: Rays two-way participant Brendan McKay impressed in his first begin on Saturday, taking an ideal recreation into the sixth inning and ending with one hit over six frames whereas throwing an environment friendly 81 pitches. He made his first begin at DH in Monday’s 6-Three win over the Orioles and as his minor league stats would counsel, his pitching is way forward of his hitting. He went Zero-for-Four, though did put all 4 balls in play. He did smoke one ball 106.Four mph, however all 4 balls had been groundouts and the opposite three weren’t hit onerous. He had hit .167 in Double-A, however after his promotion to Triple-A, he did hit .265/.400/.551 with 4 house runs in 49 at-bats, so there may be some potential there with the bat.

This 12 months’s All-Star Recreation is Tuesday, July 9, at Progressive Area in Cleveland. Here is what it’s good to know concerning the groups and all of the festivities. Rosters, schedules, evaluation

When the Rays took McKay fourth general within the 2017 after hitting .341 with 18 house runs for Louisville, some groups most well-liked him as a hitter. After posting 1.22 ERA within the minors this 12 months, he is confirmed rather more polished as a pitcher and it was clear he wasn’t going to be taught rather more by pitching in Triple-A. He is prepared as a pitcher, however I feel it is going to be a problem for the Rays to get him constant at-bats. It is one factor to DH him towards the Orioles, but it surely’s one other in the event you’re enjoying the Yankees, Tampa Bay’s subsequent opponent (McKay is scheduled to begin on Thursday). Nonetheless, he is an thrilling participant and for now the Rays will proceed growing him as a two-way participant.