Bell (HR, 2B) embraces return to Nationals Park
WASHINGTON — It’s taken a short while for Josh Bell to settle in together with his new workforce, with the switch-hitting slugger starting his Guardians tenure mired in an ice-cold droop to start the season.
Maybe all he wanted was some familiarity.
Back within the ballpark he known as house for components of the previous two seasons, Bell is exhibiting indicators of life. His first house run as a Guardian got here in a key spot towards his former workforce, and his eighth-inning double arrange Andrés Giménez to attain the decisive run in Friday’s come-from-behind 4-3 win over the Nationals at Nationals Park.
“It’s always a pleasure coming here,” Bell stated. “At this point in the year, that feeling of comfortability will hopefully get me back on track offensively, and hopefully, I can keep things going throughout the rest of the year.”
Bell, who signed a two-year, $33 million deal with Cleveland over the winter, entered play hitting .109 (5-for-46) with zero homers in his first 12 video games with the Guardians. Manager Terry Francona dropped him to sixth within the order for the second consecutive sport Friday after not too long ago having a reassuring dialog together with his slumping slugger. Francona’s message?
“I asked him how he was doing the other day, and he said, ‘I’m OK,’” Francona stated. ‘I said, ‘Take it from a guy who’s performed this for 10 years. You’re an amazing man, an amazing teammate. I’ve seen the again of your baseball card. You’ll get as sizzling as you bought chilly. You’ll take pleasure in it. In the meantime, don’t kill your self.’ I do know it’s simpler stated than performed, however he’s an impressive particular person, and he’ll get sizzling.”
The means Bell responded makes Francona sound prophetic. Bell acquired a pleasant ovation from the introduced crowd of 21,367 at Nationals Park previous to his first at-bat. Then he rapped a seventh-inning solo homer that was classic Bell, depositing a 98 mph Hunter Harvey fastball 410 ft over the excessive right-center subject wall.
José Ramírez’s bases-loaded stroll drove within the tying run later within the body, and Giménez scored the eventual successful run on Will Brennan’s run-scoring groundout an inning later, after Bell’s double. James Karinchak and Emmanuel Clase then disregarded rising concern over their early-season hiccups, working a scoreless inning every to shut out the collection opener.
But the principle takeaway was Bell, who returned to the nation’s capital after spending components of 2021 and ‘22 with the Nationals earlier than being dealt to the Padres within the Juan Soto commerce final summer time. Bell had a 136 OPS+ in his tenure with the Nats, amassing 41 homers, 145 RBIs and National League Silver Slugger recognition (2022). But Bell additionally went via a transition section with San Diego. The former All-Star hit simply .192 with three homers in 53 video games after the commerce, together with 2-for-26 (.077) in seven video games towards Washington.
“A lot of times, it happens with new guys — no matter how old you are or how old you are, it happens, and it’s no fun,” Francona stated. “I think he’s an extremely mature, grounded young man. He’s just not hitting the way he wants to hit yet, but he will.”
The means Bell swung the bat Friday evening, he may be prepared to interrupt out.
“I was trying to be perfect there for a little bit,” Bell stated. “But knowing how good this team is, all I really have to do is play my game and we’ll be right where we want to be as the course of the season goes on. There was some natural pressure I was putting on myself, but there is still a large chunk of the season left for me to right my wrongs.”
