Josh Bell was part of the 2011 Major League Baseball draft class having been a second round pick of the Pittsburgh Pirates. In my opinion he’s a gentle giant. I say that because he stands at six foot three inches and has a listed weight of 261 pounds. He’s relatively quiet, imposing, but also has that serious determined demeanor that all successful professional athletes have.
Bell has done a lot in his big league career even collecting a base hit in the 2019 All Star Game. The Texas native also won the first National League Silver Slugger Award for a first baseman in 2022. He’s had some challenges at the plate this season but has been in the middle of the Washington Nationals lineup for all but two of the team’s first 27 games this season.
Bell has played for six different teams and this is his second stint with the Nationals.
“It’s great to be back, this team is much different that when I played here before. It’s a lot younger with some superstar prospects” Bell explained to MLBbro.com.
The baseball trade deadline in 2022 was August 2 and Bell found himself going across the country to the San Diego Padres with Juan Soto in exchange for six players. Now that he is back in Washington he finds himself in great company.
“It’s cool to finally see James Wood play and to be on the same field as CJ (Abrams)” Bell said he spoke about a couple of bros that he was traded for but is now teammates with.
“It’s cool to play with Dylan Crews and defend behind McKenzie Gore and have a chance to win every night” Bell said .
We are still in the first month of the season but the experience that Bell brings to the club is something that could pay dividends in the long run. “That was my third stretch in three years” he spoke of his recent teams playing meaningful baseball late in the season.
Josh Bell at Washington Nationals game, April 26, 2025 (Photos by Joy Washington for MLBbro.com)
Bell has a lifetime batting average of .295 in the playoffs in helping both the Padres and the Marlins advance to the post season in 2022 and 2023. As a member of the Diamondbacks in 2024 his team was eliminated from playoff contention on the last day of the regular season.
The demands of a Major League Baseball player are quite taxing. When he is away from the diamond Bell definitely knows what is important to him.
“We have a park nearby, I take my girls out and run around with them and give wifey a breather” the 32 year old shared with MLBbro.com. “It’s always a good way to unplug and connect back with them” he concluded.
Bell’s numbers are definitely subpar through the first four weeks of the season but being in the center of the lineup he is well positioned to turn things around and help the Nationals get over the .500 mark.
