Josh Bell just keeps smacking the ball into stands, rivers and bullpens across the United States.
Bell was named the NL Player of the Week for May 13-19, thrusting his name into the national spotlight. And while his Major League-leading 44 RBIs, his 14 home runs and his .333/.404/.697 slash impress, Clint Hurdle seems even more pleased by Bell's ability to overcome adversity along the way.
"He's been a confident guy," Hurdle was telling media Tuesday at PNC Park before the Pirates' game vs. the Rockies. "There's a lot of other people that lost confidence in him. I think he did a really good job of just not getting caught up in it. He experienced a lot in two years, and as I shared with him last year, the '18 season could be the most beneficial for him in his career. And he thought that was an interesting slant on it. It's about what you work on."
Those 14 home runs from Bell so far in 2019 also landed him next to a special name in the Pirates' record books. Only Willie Stargell hit more through 44 games, ringing up 15 in 1973.
The Bell-Stargell connection doesn't end there, as Hurdle explained.
"When he was named NL Player of the Week, I got a text from [Stargell's second wife] Margaret Stargell — he's gone and done some charity work for the Stargell Foundation there — and she wanted to make sure everybody knew how happy they were and proud of him. Because they see the other side of it as well."
Then came the kicker.
"And I said Big Willie's probably smiling down on Josh right now," Hurdle said. "It's a pretty cool deal, because Willie would've been one of the guys that would've had his arm around him and challenged him at the same time. Because that's what Josh appreciates. He's not out for you to make him feel good when he's not doing well. He likes to be challenged and he likes to work. He's worked himself and he's challenged himself to a pretty good position right now."
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