David Bell (baseball) explained

David Bell
Team:Cincinnati Reds
Number:25
Bats:Right
Throws:Right
Birth Date:14 September 1972
Birth Place:Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
Debutleague:MLB
Debutdate:May 3
Debutyear:1995
Debutteam:Cleveland Indians
Finalleague:MLB
Finaldate:October 1
Finalyear:2006
Finalteam:Milwaukee Brewers
Statleague:MLB
Statyear:August 16, 2024
Stat1label:Batting average
Stat1value:.257
Stat2label:Home runs
Stat2value:123
Stat3label:Runs batted in
Stat3value:589
Stat4label:Managerial record
Stat4value:393–438
Stat5label:Winning %
Teams:
As player
As manager
As coach

David Michael Bell (born September 14, 1972) is an American former professional baseball third baseman and second baseman, former Coach, and current manager for the Cincinnati Reds of Major League Baseball (MLB). Over the course of his 12-year MLB playing career, Bell appeared at all four infield positions while playing for the Cleveland Indians, St. Louis Cardinals, Seattle Mariners, San Francisco Giants, Philadelphia Phillies, and Milwaukee Brewers, but played primarily at third and second. Bell made his MLB debut for the Indians in 1995.

After his retirement as an active player, Bell served as a coach for the Chicago Cubs and the St. Louis Cardinals. After managing the Triple-A Louisville Bats and (former) Double-A Carolina Mudcats, both of which are or were in the Reds organization, Bell was chosen as the Reds manager in 2018.

The grandson of Gus Bell, son of Buddy Bell, and brother of Mike Bell, David Bell is a member of one of five families to have three generations play in the Major Leagues. In addition, David and Buddy are the fifth father-son pair to serve as major league managers, joining Connie and Earle Mack, George and Dick Sisler, Bob and Joel Skinner, and Bob and Aaron Boone.[1]

Amateur career

Bell attended Moeller High School in Cincinnati, Ohio. Playing for the school's varsity baseball team for three years, where he ranks in the Top Ten in five career categories including doubles and plate appearances. He ranks among the top in Single Season Doubles and Most Doubles in one game.[2] He also played Mickey Mantle and Connie Mack Baseball National Championship teams in 1988 and 1989 respectively as well as leading Moeller to a state championship in 1989.[3] Bell was also a member of the Moeller boys' basketball team.[4] Bell committed to play baseball at the University of Kentucky as a junior.

Professional career

Draft and minor leagues

After the Cleveland Indians selected Bell with their pick in the seventh round (190th overall),[5] Bell decided to forgo his commitment to Kentucky.

Major League career

Cleveland Indians

Bell made his Major League debut on May 3, as a pinch hitter for Jim Thome and stayed in the game in a defensive replacement.[6] He was optioned to the Buffalo Bisons on May 8, 1995. He hit .272 with eight home runs and 34 RBIs in 70 games.

St. Louis Cardinals

On July 27, 1995, Bell was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals along with Pepe McNeal and Rick Heiserman for Ken Hill.[7]

Return to Cleveland

On April 14,, Bell was claimed off waivers by the Indians.[8] On April 15, he hit the first inside-the-park home run in Jacobs Field history, and the first for the Indians since .[9]

Seattle Mariners

On August 31, 1998, Bell was traded to the Seattle Mariners for Joey Cora.[10] Bell was re-signed on December 19, 2001.

San Francisco Giants

On January 25, 2002, Bell was traded to the San Francisco Giants for Desi Relaford so he could have a chance to play every day.[11] Bell scored the 2002 NLCS winning run for the San Francisco Giants from second on Kenny Lofton's single. Bell was the runner bearing down on home plate in Game 5 of the 2002 World Series when J. T. Snow lifted 3 year old batboy Darren Baker out of harm's way.[12] Near the end of the season, he won the Willie Mac Award for his spirit and leadership – as voted on by his teammates and coaching staff.

Philadelphia Phillies

On December 2, 2002, Bell signed a four-year $17 million deal with the Philadelphia Phillies.[13] He made Major League history on June 28,, by joining his grandfather, Gus Bell, as the first grandfather-grandson combination to hit for the cycle.

Milwaukee Brewers

Bell was traded from the Philadelphia Phillies to the Milwaukee Brewers on July 28,, in a deal that swapped him for minor league pitcher Wilfrido Laureano.[14] The Brewers chose not to re-sign Bell after the 2006 season, and he became a free agent.

Coaching career

On October 31,, the Cincinnati Reds named Bell the manager for their Double-A affiliate, the Carolina Mudcats.[15] Bell spent three seasons as the Mudcats manager. In November 2011 he was named manager of the Reds' Triple-A affiliate Louisville Bats.[16]

On October 23,, the Chicago Cubs named Bell the third base coach for the Major League club.

On December 17, 2013, the St. Louis Cardinals announced hiring Bell as their new assistant hitting coach.[17]

From 2015 through 2017, Bell served as the Cardinals' bench coach. He left the team on October 20, 2017, to become the vice president of player development for the San Francisco Giants.[18]

Managing career

Cincinnati Reds

On October 21, 2018, the Cincinnati Reds announced Bell had been hired as the 63rd manager in franchise history.[19] The contract spans three years with a club option for a fourth.

In an April 7, 2019, game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Bell was ejected after his role in a bench clearing incident involving Chris Archer, Derek Dietrich, Yasiel Puig, Amir Garrett, Keone Kela, and Felipe Vázquez. This was Bell's first career managerial ejection. Bell received a one-game suspension following the incident on April 9. On July 30, 2019, another bench-clearing mash-up occurred between the Reds and Pirates, with Bell (who had been ejected from the game in the previous half-inning) involved in it. On August 1, 2019, Bell received a 6-game suspension without eligibility to appeal.

On September 22, 2021, Bell agreed to a two-year contract extension with the Reds.[20]

On July 28, 2023, Bell agreed to a contract extension with the Reds through 2026.[21]

Managerial record

[22]

Team Year Regular season Postseason
GamesWonLostWin %FinishWon Lost Win % Result
CIN201916275874th in NL Central
CIN20206031292nd in NL Central 0 2.000 Lost NLWC (ATL)
CIN202116283793rd in NL Central
CIN2022162621005th in NL Central
CIN202316282803rd in NL Central
CIN2024974750.485
Total805380425.4720 2 .000

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Former Mariner David Bell hired as manager of Reds . October 22, 2018 . The Associated Press . The Seattle Times . October 21, 2018.
  2. Web site: David Bell '90 Named Cincinnati Reds New Manager . Shelton . Mark . October 21, 2018 . ESP Media, LLC . www.letsgobigmoe.com . January 15, 2019.
  3. Web site: Announcing the 2009 Hall of Fame Inductees . LaRosa . Buddy . LaRosa MVP . www.larosasmvp.com . January 15, 2019.
  4. Web site: New Cincinnati Reds skipper David Bell led Moeller Crusaders to state title . Springer . Scott . October 22, 2018 . USA Today . www.January 15, 2019.
  5. Web site: Looking Back at the Indians' Draft: 1990 . Lastoria . Tony . January 24, 2016 . CBS Interactive . www.247spots.com . January 15, 2019.
  6. Web site: Indians 14 - Tigers 7, May 3, 1995 . Sports Reference LLC . www.baseball-reference.com . January 15, 2019.
  7. Web site: BASEBALL; Rich Get Richer: Angels Land Abbott; Indians Add Hill . Chass . Murray . July 28, 1995 . . January 15, 2019.
  8. Web site: Transactions . April 15, 1998 . The Hartford Courant . www.courant.com . January 15, 2019.
  9. Web site: Cleveland's Bell Hits Homerun . April 15, 1998 . The Associated Press . www.apnews.com . January 15, 2019.
  10. Web site: Indians Deal for Cora . September 1, 1998 . Orlando Sentinel . www.orlandosentinel.com . January 15, 2019.
  11. Web site: M's trade David Bell for Giants' Relaford . January 25, 2002 . The Seattle Times . www.community.seattletimes.nwsource.com . January 15, 2019.
  12. Web site: The little batboy who could: Darren Baker, now 18, grows up . Shea . John . May 28, 2017 . San Francisco Chronicle . www.sfchronicle.com . January 15, 2019.
  13. Web site: Bell leaves Giants for $17 million deal with Phils . December 2, 2002 . ESPN Internet Ventures . www.aespncdn.com . January 15, 2019.
  14. Web site: Phillies trade Bell to Brewers for minor-league pitcher . July 28, 2006 . ESPN Internet Ventures . www.espn.com . January 15, 2019.
  15. Web site: Another Bell joins Reds organization . October 31, 2008 . Sheldon . Mark . MLB.com . October 31, 2008 . MLB.com.
  16. Web site: David Bell to manage the Louisville Bats, replacing Rick Sweet . November 29, 2011 . Grant . Michael . courier-journal.com . November 29, 2011 . courier-journal.com.
  17. Web site: Langosch. Jenifer . Cards hire Bell to be assistant hitting coach . The Official Site of the St. Louis Cardinals . MLB.com. December 17, 2013.
  18. Web site: Bench coach Bell departs for Giants . MLB.com . October 20, 2017 . October 20, 2017 . October 21, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171021035831/http://m.cardinals.mlb.com/news/article/259191112/bench-coach-david-bell-departs-cardinals/ . dead .
  19. News: Reds hire new manager, sign Cincinnati native David Bell to three-year deal. Perry. Dayn. CBSSports.com. October 21, 2018. October 21, 2018.
  20. Web site: David Bell, Reds agree to contract extension.
  21. News: Gonzalez . Alden . Reds reward manager David Bell with 3-year contract extension . July 30, 2023 . ESPN.com . July 28, 2023.
  22. Web site: David Bell Managerial Record.