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ANALYSIS: Two weeks into the season, Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman/outfielder Josh Bell was hitting a putrid .200/.273/.250 with only two extra-base hits, both doubles. In the month since, Bell has been outstanding. He's hit nine home runs, tying him with Cody Bellinger for second among all rookies. Over the last 30 days, Bell has an .812 OPS and has totalled 14 RBI and 18 runs scored.
He still has his issues against left-handed pitchers, a .205 batting average in 39 at-bats, and the Pirates still will opt to John Jaso when Bell has LvL matchups. Bell's strikeout ratio has dipped from 28% to 19% over the last week or so, but if he continues on his power surge, the strikeouts are just a part of the package. For those that do not think that his plate discipline can improve, remember that he had more walks (21) than strikeouts (19) in 128 at-bats for Pittsburgh last season.
Bell was a top prospect for Pittsburgh before being called up, so this could be just the beginning of what could be a big breakout. Being able to play first base and outfield will not only keep Bell in the lineup, but also provide more value for fantasy owners. He might be the best pickup to replace Freddie Freeman as he has more potential than most 1B available on the waiver wire.
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