Ken Rosenthal has reported that the Cincinnati Reds are close to hiring Pirates hitting coach Jay Bell as bench coach.
Sources: #Reds to hire #Pirates hitting coach Jay Bell as bench coach.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) November 12, 2013
In Bell’s one season as Pirates hitting coach, the Bucco offense posted a .245 BA (11th NL)/.396 SLG (9th NL)/.709 OPS (8th NL) while hitting 161 home runs (T-3rd NL) and recording 603 RBI’s (9th NL). The team struck out 1330 times which was third in the NL.
The team’s 634 runs were good enough for 9th in the NL and last for teams that made the postseason.
The Pirates do have time to find a fitting replacement for Bell as Spring Training is still 3 1/2 months away.
(Photo Credit: Gene J. Puskar / AP)
