At last, Bell gets first game off
Josh Bell’s name wasn’t in the lineup Tuesday night when the Pirates opened a three-game set against the Atlanta Braves at PNC Park.
Bell has been one of the few consistent factors for a Pirates team that has seen more injuries through 58 games than they had all last season. Bell had started each of the club’s first 58 games while batting fourth. He also was one of five National League players who previously had played in all his team’s games this year.
Pirates manager Clint Hurdle and Bell were in conversations over the weekend as to when a day off would be best.
“He was steadfast about playing on Sunday,” Hurdle said of his standout first baseman. “He wanted to play against the Brewers and try to help us win that series. He doubled and drove in a run.”
Hurdle also cited the matchup with Braves lefthander Max Fried. The Pirates never had faced Fried, and Bell is a natural left-handed batter.
“We decided that this would be a good day to give him off so that he could double up with the team off day on Monday,” Hurdle said.
Bell led all big league players in each of the following categories in May: 46 hits, 24 extra-base hits, 31 RBI, and 94 total bases.
“The hard work in the offseason paid off,” Bell said. “First and foremost, I have to give credit to [hitting coach Rick] Eckstein and [assistant hitting coach Jacob] Cruz for their hard work with me in the cages. They gave me the game plan for every bat. I executed, but they were right there in my corner.
“We’ve been building a good foundation together. I feel good going into every at-bat because of the work we’re doing. I feel as if though I have my feet under me.”
Bell enjoyed his successful May and said the acclaim of being named NL player of the month humbled him, but he’s hungry for more success.
“I’m nowhere near where I want to be yet,” Bell said. “As a baseball player, you always strive to get better until they take that jersey off your back. I’m pleased with May. But I always want to get better.”
Reynolds pays attention
Bryan Reynolds entered Tuesday night with an 11-game hitting streak in which he was 17 for 40 with 2 doubles, 2 home runs, 8 RBIs, and a triple.
Hurdle credits Reynolds’ attention to detail for his success.
“If you watch him, you’ll notice that he’s a guy that files things away,” Hurdle said. “On Sunday, he hit two pitches off the end of his bat in his first two at-bats. In the next two, he got hits because he decided to hunt something different. He’s done it in different ways. He’s hit soft when he needs to and has shown power. The kid knows how to make adjustments.”
Reynolds is the Pirates eighth-ranked prospect according to MLB.com. His sustained success might surprise some observers, but guys who knew him before he was a pro expected it. Braves shortstop Dansby Swanson was Reynolds teammate on Vanderbilt’s 2014 College World Series-winning team. Swanson saw Reynolds work ethic shine as a college freshman.
“He wasn’t a highly recruited guy. But the first time I watched him, I saw the power from both sides. He’s a good player,” Swanson said. “He’s one of those guys who puts his head down and goes to work. He’s a very unique person. I’ve always admired his ability to be consistent. It didn’t matter how he felt or looked, and he always showed up to work.”