With Chad Kuhl, Jameson Taillon, Steven Brault, Tyler Glasnow and Adam Frazier getting the call to the big leagues recently, the Pirates have seemingly embraced the youth movement, similarly to their hometown partners, the Stanley Cup Champion Pittsburgh Penguins. With so many prospects up, it was only a matter of time until Josh Bell joined them at the big league level.
A source told Pittsburgh Sporting News that first baseman/outfielder Bell is on his way to meet the Pirates in Pittsburgh as the team begins a three-game set against the Cubs on Friday evening. An attempt to reach a second source was unsuccessful.
However, Bell’s former trainer, Logan Stout, tweeted the following out:
Congrats to @DallasPatriots @JBell_19 on making @mlb debut tonight with @Pirates! #mlb pic.twitter.com/0Wr7M05M4L
— Logan Stout (@LoganStout) July 8, 2016
The chatter started last week, as the Pirates were set to begin a five-game west coast trip in American League parks, where a designated hitter would be needed. In a two-game set against the Mariners, there was no sign of Bell. However, on Wednesday night, the Indianapolis Indians, the Triple-A affiliate of the Pirates, promoted first baseman/outfielder Jose Osuna from Double-A Altoona. Osuna is hitting .271/.329/.428 this season in Double-A.
The roster move opened the door for Bell to earn his promotion to the Pirates. On the season in Triple-A, Bell has a .324/.407/.535 slash line with 13 homers, 19 doubles, 53 RBIs and 55 strikeouts in 359 plate appearances.
Bell, the Pirates’ second-round pick out of Jesuit College Preparatory School of Dallas in 2011, was also named to the International League All-Star Team, along with Glasnow.
Image credit: MILB.com
