Is Josh Bell the next Andrew McCutchen or the reincarnation of Ralph Kiner?



… or a flash in the pan?

Josh Bell’s production in May 2019 was so incredible that he was being mentioned in the same breath as some the greats, like Willie Mays and Ralph Kiner.

According to a MLB.com story on June 1,

Josh Bell’s name now belongs in elite company.

More total bases in a month than Ralph Kiner ever had. More total bases in a month, in fact, than any Pirates player -- ever. More total bases in the month of May than anybody since Willie Mays in 1958 …

Bell’s first-inning RBI single off Milwaukee starter Jhoulys Chacin gave him 93 total bases in May, and his fourth-inning base hit brought the total to 94. That total landed him on lists with historic names and Hall of Famers like Kiner and Mays.

Adam Berry

Today, he has more votes for first baseman in the MLB all-star game than any other player … and he is the only Pirate who deserves to be named to the roster.

He is currently hitting .315 with an OBP of .383 and a SLG of .477. He has 20 home runs and leads the National League in RBIs with 66, along with leading the team with 27 doubles, according to baseball-reference.com.

His May performance led Andrew Fillipponi of The Fan in Pittsburgh to express the sentiments of many by saying on Twitter,

Josh Bell is the new face of the Pirates franchise. Took a year, but they’ve found their next Andrew McCutchen.


At that time, Bell was on target to hit 49 home runs, but now, that projected number if lower, so that Ralph Kiner comparison has fallen.

So, many contemporary fans may ask, who the heck is Ralph Kiner anyway?

Ralph Kiner

To make an analogy to great players, fans need numbers. Kiner was one of the greatest home run hitters in Pirates’ history. Twice he exceeded the 50-home run mark, knocking out 51 in 1947 and 54 in 1949. Granted, Forbes Field was a little shorter in those years because of what they called “Greensberg Gardens” in left field, but he also knocked out 40 in ’48, 47 in ’50, and 42 in ’51.

Not shabby numbers. Not sure Bell can ever record those numbers. Kiner had 369 overall, but 68 of those came after the Pirates traded him after seven seasons.

For context, the most home runs Willie Stargell ever had was 48 in 1971, the season they were World Series champs. He also had 125 RBIs that season.

Cutch analogy better

While it would be nice to have a home run hitter like Kiner again, Bell’s analogy to Andrew McCutcheon, the NL MVP in 2013, is much better. If you look at the 2013 season itself — he was third for MVP in 2012 and ’14 — Bell could be impressive if this season continues. Unfortunately, with the team in last place right now and not likely to win it or make the playoffs, Bell has no chance for an MVP. Cody Bellinger has that locked up right now — but it is early.

Cutch finished the 2013 season with a .317 batting average with 21 home runs and 85 RBIs, numbers Bell should surpass.

Even so, just having a Pirate who could earn a starting spot in the all-star game has electrified many fans, who are growing fonder and fonder of Bell.

If it continues.

Bell started off well in 2017

In 2017, Bell, a former second-round pick, knocked out 26 home runs and drove in 90. He fell off last season, but now has a good batting average to go along with his power hitting.

And, as Brad Berreman of Fansided has written, he could be around for a few more productive years,

Bell will turn 27 in August, so he’s firmly in his prime. He’s arbitration-eligible for the first time after the season, and he won’t hit free agency until after the 2022 campaign. So the Pirates have him under team control for three more full seasons after this one, through his age-30 season. A contract extension would probably change that equation, and if the Pirates do see Bell as the new face of the franchise that might be on their radar.

May 2019

Berreman was asking if Bell could become the face of the franchise. He does have that potential, though, with some reservations,

Even for a franchise like the Pirates, who may be searching for that kind of star, it’s a big step from being a productive player to being the face of a franchise. Bell needs to keep up what he’s doing, over the rest of this season and probably into next year, before he can credibly have that label put on him in any way, shape or form.

Fansided

Nevertheless, for someone who only sees the Bucs once in a while now, it is fun to watch his highlight film. Just hope that it continues.

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