6 years agoPittsburgh Pirates first baseman Josh Bell was named the National League Player of the Month for his record-setting May. This is the second honor that Bell has received this year, as he was previously named the NL Player of the Week (May 19). The budding 26-year-old led all of baseball with 46 hits and 31 RBI in May while tying for the league lead in home runs with 12. He also ranked in the top five of the Majors in average (.390), on-base percentage (.442), slugging percentage (.797) and OPS (1.238). Additionally, the switch-hitter set a club record with 94 total bases in a month, as he also compiled 12 doubles for a total of 24 extra-base hits, tying a franchise record. Bell will look to produce at a career-high rate against the Braves left-hander Max Fried (7-3, 3.19) at PNC Park on Tuesday. The fourth-year pro has hit better on the road and against right-handers this year, although he still has had a good amount of success at home and versus lefties.--Daniel Benjamin
Source: MLB.com