Josh Bell (first baseman) facts for kids
Joshua Evan Bell (born August 14, 1992) is an American professional baseball first baseman who plays for the Washington Nationals in Major League Baseball (MLB). He has also played for the Pittsburgh Pirates, San Diego Padres, Cleveland Guardians, Miami Marlins, and Arizona Diamondbacks.
Quick facts for kids Josh Bell |
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Bell with the San Diego Padres in 2022
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| Washington Nationals – No. 19 | |||
| First baseman | |||
| Born: August 14, 1992 Irving, Texas, US. |
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| debut | |||
| July 8, 2016, for the Pittsburgh Pirates | |||
| MLB statistics (through July 6, 2025) |
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| Batting average | .256 | ||
| Hits | 1,100 | ||
| Home runs | 182 | ||
| Runs batted in | 649 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Bell went to Jesuit College Preparatory School of Dallas. The Pirates picked him in the second round of the 2011 MLB draft. He received a huge $5 million bonus to sign. This was a record for a player not picked in the first round. He chose this over a college scholarship to the University of Texas at Austin.
Bell played for the Pirates from 2016 to 2020. He was an All-Star in 2019. After the 2020 season, the Pirates traded Bell to the Nationals. In 2022, the Nationals traded him to the Padres. In 2023, the Guardians traded him to the Marlins. In 2024, the Marlins traded him to the Diamondbacks. Then, in the 2024 offseason, Bell signed with the Washington Nationals again.
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Early Baseball Days
Bell played baseball at Jesuit College Preparatory School of Dallas in Dallas, Texas. In his final year, he had an amazing batting average of .548. He also hit 13 home runs and had 54 runs batted in. He was named to the USA Today All-USA high school baseball team. He was also named the Gatorade/ESPN Rise Texas Player of the Year.
Bell had planned to go to the University of Texas at Austin. He had a scholarship to play college baseball for the Texas Longhorns baseball team. Baseball America said Bell was the best outfielder available in the 2011 Major League Baseball draft. However, Bell told teams not to pick him. He said he would go to college and not sign a professional contract.
The Pirates still drafted Bell in the second round. He was the 61st player picked in the 2011 draft. Bell took some classes at the University of Texas that summer. He also worked out with the team's coaches. Bell and the Pirates then agreed to a contract. He received a $5 million signing bonus. This was a record for a player drafted in the second round.
Starting in the Pros
Minor League Journey (2011–2016)
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The Pirates sent Bell to train with the State College Spikes in 2011. But he did not play in any games that year. Bell was ranked as the 69th best young player in baseball before the 2012 season. He started playing professionally in 2012 with the West Virginia Power. This team is in the Single–A South Atlantic League.
However, Bell got injured early in 2012. He hurt his knee while running to first base. He had a partial tear in his knee. Bell missed almost all of the 2012 minor league season because of this injury.
Bell played for the West Virginia Power again in 2013. He hit .279 with 13 home runs and 76 RBI in 119 games. In 2014, Bell started with the Bradenton Marauders. This team is in the High–A Florida State League. He also played in the 2014 All-Star Futures Game. He hit .335 with nine home runs for Bradenton. The Pirates then moved him up to the Altoona Curve. This team is in Double–A. After the season, he was named the best player in the Florida State League.
The Pirates sent Bell to the Arizona Fall League after 2014. He played only as a first baseman there. This was because the Pirates had many good outfielders in the major leagues.
Bell started the 2015 season with Altoona. He was chosen to play in the 2015 All-Star Futures Game again. The Pirates moved Bell up to the Indianapolis Indians in July. This team is in Triple–A. He hit .307 with five home runs for Altoona. With Indianapolis, he hit .347 with two home runs. The Pirates then added Bell to their main roster after the season.
Bell began the 2016 season with Indianapolis. He started strong, hitting .324 in 83 games.
Time with the Pittsburgh Pirates (2016–2020)
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Bell made his major league debut with the Pirates on July 8, 2016. He was 23 years old. He came into the game as a pinch hitter. The very next day, he hit a grand slam in only his second time at bat in MLB. He was sent back to Indianapolis for a short time. He was called back up to the Pirates on August 20. In 128 times at bat, Bell hit .273 with three home runs.
In 2017, Bell had surgery on his left knee. But he did not miss any games. On September 4, Bell set a new record for rookie switch hitters in the National League. He hit his 24th home run of the season. He was one of three finalists for the 2017 Rookie of the Year award. He finished third in the voting. Bell ended the season hitting .255 with 26 home runs and 90 RBI. In 2018, he hit .261 with 12 home runs.
On May 8, 2019, Bell hit a baseball directly into the Allegheny River. This was only the fourth time a player had done this at PNC Park. The ball traveled 472 feet! Two weeks later, Bell became the first MLB player to hit two home runs directly into the Allegheny River. Bell was chosen for his first MLB All-Star Game on June 30, 2019. At that time, he was hitting .302 with 27 home runs. He also led MLB with 84 RBI. Bell also took part in the 2019 Home Run Derby. He was eliminated in the first round. Bell finished the 2019 season hitting .277 with 37 home runs and 116 RBI.
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Bell and the Pirates agreed to a $4.8 million salary for the 2020 season. This season was shorter because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Bell hit .226 with eight home runs and 22 RBI.
Playing for the Washington Nationals (2021–2022)
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On December 24, 2020, the Pirates traded Bell to the Washington Nationals. In return, the Pirates received Wil Crowe and Eddy Yean. Bell and the Nationals agreed to a $6.35 million salary for the 2021 season. On April 20, 2021, Bell hit his first home run with the Nationals. He finished the 2021 season hitting .261 with 27 home runs and 88 RBI in 144 games.
In 2022, Bell signed a $10 million contract with the Nationals. He had a strong start to the 2022 season. He hit .301 with 14 home runs in 103 games for the Nationals.
Time with the San Diego Padres (2022)
On August 2, 2022, Bell was traded to the San Diego Padres. He was traded along with Juan Soto. In return, the Nationals received several players. Bell hit his first home run for the Padres on August 20, 2022. This was in a game against his old team, the Nationals. His hitting average dropped to .192 with San Diego. He played less during the playoffs.
Cleveland Guardians (2023)
On December 12, 2022, the Cleveland Guardians signed Bell. He signed a two-year contract worth $33 million. This deal allowed him to choose to leave after the 2023 season. Bell hit .233 with eight home runs and 48 RBI in 97 games for the Guardians in 2023.
Miami Marlins (2023–2024)
On August 1, 2023, Bell was traded to the Miami Marlins. The Marlins sent infielders Jean Segura and Kahlil Watson to the Guardians. In 53 games for Miami, Bell hit .270 with 11 home runs and 26 RBI.
Bell played in 104 games for the Marlins in 2024. He hit .239 with 14 home runs and 49 RBI.
Arizona Diamondbacks (2024)
On July 30, 2024, the Marlins traded Bell to the Arizona Diamondbacks. He debuted with the team on August 2. In that game, he hit a home run from both sides of the plate. This helped his team win 9–8 against the Pirates. In 41 games for the Diamondbacks, Bell hit .279 with five home runs and 22 RBI.
Return to the Washington Nationals
On January 5, 2025, Bell returned to the Washington Nationals. He signed a one-year contract worth $6 million.
