With the All Star break behind us the teams that have realistic playoff hopes will start to look for veteran leadership to help jockey for position. The Minnesota Twins find themselves with a 49-51 record through their first 100 games just four games out of first place.
Josh Bell Gives Twins Clubhouse Stability
Josh Bell is in his eleventh Major League season and first with the Twins but gives Minnesota great stability.He’s brought that aspect of his game with him wherever he’s played.
David Grubb
“As of late, as I’ve gotten older its about establishing a clubhouse culture and redirecting the vision that manager Derek Shelton has back to the younger guys so they can play a solid brand of baseball” he told MLBbro about playing for his seventh different team. Bell came up in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization and was their second round pick in the 2011 Major League draft.
He made his big league debut on July 8 2016 and collected a single in his first at bat. Now that he is a veteran Bell can look back on guys that helped him in his early days.
“McCutchen for sure. Josh Harrison, and David Frese” he spoke highly of his former teammates.
“Frese played a big part in suggesting I go out to California and hit in the offseason after 2018” Bell added.
Josh Bell Was An All-Star In 2019 For Pittsburgh Pirates
That suggestion led to an All Star 2019 campaign for Bell in which he hit .277 and had a career high 37 bro bombs and drove in 116 runs which is also a career high. He started in the All Star game that season and singled in his first at bat.
Longevity is something that Bell is very proud of and likes to share his knowledge.
“Just keep working hard. “I’ve never regretted getting my hands dirty or staying in the weight room. I think that’s one of the reasons I’m still around” the 33 year old shared some of the advice he can give to his younger teammates. “It’s important to stay strong throughout the year and be available to be in the game” he mentioned.
Josh Bell Is A Rare Switch-Hitter
One of the many contributions that Bell has given to his respective teams over the years is being able to bat efficiently from both sides of the plate. The number of switch hitters that step to the plate each season is dwindling.
“It’s hard” the Texas native chuckled. “Pitchers seem to be getting better and better each year. Even in the minor leagues if you have flaws in your swing they’re going to exploit it” Bell explained.
The goal for every player and every team is to play meaningful games in October.
Bell had a taste of that in back-to-back years.
“I would say the post season homers are always cool” he talked about hitting a pair of bro bombs for the San Diego Padres during the 2022 playoff season that ended in the NLCS. “Tasting champagne at the end of the year is an experience that is second to none” Bell concluded with MLBbro.
He played for the Washington Nats in two seperate stints and helped the Miami Marlins to the Wild Card round in 2023, hitting .500 in a series loss to the Philadelphia Phillies. As the Twins push towards the top of the American League Central Bell truly will be playing a big role. With 62 games remaining in the regular season he leads the team in games played, hits, and Runs Batted In. That’s leadership, consistency, and quality all in one.
