CLEVELAND — Christian Yelich has noticed the adjustments Josh Bell has made to his approach and swing. Mike Trout called the Pirates’ power-hitting first baseman a star. Cody Bellinger thinks Bell has figured something out.
From every corner of the Grand Ballroom inside the Huntington Convention Center, baseball’s best and most recognized players were united in two things on Monday: They’ve absolutely been paying attention to what Josh Bell has done, and they’re pretty darn impressed.
Then again, how could they have ignored it?
As a member of the Brewers, Yelich has already seen Bell a bunch this season, while Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman was in Pittsburgh a couple weeks ago. Both saw the same thing: an extremely dangerous hitter.
Bell arrived here with some crazy numbers — 27 home runs and 84 RBIs, to start — and also having earned the universal respect of his peers.
“You can see the adjustments that he’s made from last year to this year,” said Yelich, the Brewers outfielder. “He’s a great player. He’s having an unbelievable start to the year. Not only that, he’s a great kid and somebody I really enjoy competing against and getting to watch play. I’m excited he’s here.”
Pitchers might have a different opinion come Tuesday night. But for now, especially in an interview setting, Major League Baseball’s top talents had no problem gushing a little over Bell, whose home runs this season have traveled an average distance of 414 feet, with a long of 474.
“It just looks like he figured something out,” said Bellinger, the Dodgers’ terrific outfielder. “Whatever it is, he always had it, but I think he figured it out this year. It’s pretty incredible what he’s doing. He hits the ball really hard consistently. He’s not a fun guy to face in the lineup.”
What Bell has done this season — taking a very good 2017 and turning it into a did-he-just-do-that 2019 — is how it’s supposed to work, Freeman said. Every year there should be a large influx of young talent, and this one might be the best example of that yet.
Bell is 26 with three years of arbitration left before he’s able to make the big-time bucks; a Home Run Derby win and the $1 million prize would nearly double his salary of $587,000.
But after his historic May, Bell barreled into the break by once again bashing baseballs, something that has definitely caught the attention of the player most often recognized as the best in the game right now.
“Oh, yeah, absolutely,” Mike Trout responded when asked whether he’s been following what Bell has been doing. “Special, special player. To do it from the right and left side, it’s pretty tough to do. It’s exciting for baseball. I’m happy for him. He’s a star.”
Freeman should maybe start scouting or writing for Sports Illustrated because he said he could actually see this coming based off of the 26 home runs Bell hit in 2017.
Many questioned whether it was in there, the result of Bell hitting .261 with just 12 homers a season ago, but clearly that assessment was incorrect.
Bell has burst on the scene and easily commanded the most attention of anyone in the National League.
"That’s what this game is all about — young guys breaking out,” Freeman said. “I saw it a couple years ago. He still hit 26 home runs. What he’s done this year has been historic. It’s been absolutely amazing to watch. Unfortunately, he did it against us, too.
“To have 60 extra-base hits, 80-plus RBIs at the All-Star break, I don’t know how many guys have ever done that. It’s been fun to watch. I’m glad I don’t have to watch it anymore, personally. The second half is going to be a nightmare for the guys having to face him.”
Nolan Arenado knows that feeling. The Rockies third baseman sees Bell one more time this season, in Denver, and will be thrilled to see Bell walk out of Coors Field.
While the game’s going on, though, chances are Arenado will take a minute to admire Bell’s swing(s) and probably hopes he crushes a homer — only if the Rockies are cruising to a blowout win.
“We saw him in Pittsburgh,” Arenado said. “He homered from both sides of the plate. He’s amazing. He’s a strong dude, really strong. He looks really good on defense, too. Early on in his career, people might have had a problem with his defense. Watching him, he’s really good on defense now. He’s having consistent at-bats, doing a great job.
“We’ve always known he was a really good baseball player. To see him become a dude like this, it’s really cool to watch.”
Jason Mackey: jmackey@post-gazette.com and Twitter @JMackeyPG.
First Published: July 9, 2019, 11:00 a.m.
