Josh Bell (1B/OF, PIT) – Waiver Wire Pickups

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ANALYSIS: After a less than  impressive start to the season, Josh Bell has put together an impressive stretch of 185 at-bats spanning the months of June and July. Though not known for his power while working through the minor leagues, Bell posted a .522 and .527 slugging percentage in June and July respectively.

Bell has traded plate discipline and contact for power, as his swing rate at pitches outside the zone has gone from 24.5% in his rookie season to 28% this season. In addition, his swinging strike rate has jumped from 7.6% to 9.3%. However, that has come with its benefits as his soft contact rate has gone from 22.3% to 17.1%, helping his ISO rise to .226 after a .133 mark in his rookie campaign.

This increase in power has made Bell fantasy relevant. Though not elite in any single category, Bell is a solid contributor in home runs, RBI, and runs scored. He posts a respectable average that certainly won’t sink fantasy teams, though at .251 it is significantly lower than expected upon entering the major leagues. This solid but unspectacular production leaves Bell best fit as a deeper league corner infield or utility option.