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Pirates Notes: Josh Bell’s Defense Continues to be a Work in Progress

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PITTSBURGH — Josh Bell will start for the third straight game at first base as the Pirates attempt to get him a decent amount of work at the position, both for his comfort level and their evaluation of where he stands defensively at the major-league level. That process started when the Pirates first got word of the injury to Jung Ho Kang Friday night, and it involved a multitude of people in the organization, from general manager Neal Huntington on down.

“We get some great communication going on with our minor leagues,” said first base coach Nick Leyva, who also coaches the infielders. “I talked to Gary Green, our infield coordinator in the minor leagues, for probably about a half an hour a couple days ago when I knew we were getting [Bell]. [Green] gave me the things they’ve been working on. Of course, Dean Treanor, our manager at Triple-A, does a tremendous job. He’s an infield guy, so when Gary’s not there, he’s able to do it.

“Then, we have Kevin Young, who’s going around and had a big deal to to do with John Jaso’s development. He has it first hand as a guy that played a different position and learned how to play first base in the big leagues. There’s all that involved and then there’s me seeing him and knowing him in spring training. We’ve got a pretty good hold on what he can and can’t do.”

So far, what Bell can do is catch the ball when it’s thrown to him. His footwork hasn’t always been fluid and he recorded his first error with a missed ground ball Monday. He also allowed a ball to scoot just past his reach for a double down the line. But Leyva, Hurdle and company are confident that Bell has the athletic tools to perform at the position.

“He’s gotten better,” Leyva said. “He’s a big man. We don’t have to really do anything different as far as the way we play people. We’re an over-shifting club anyways. Everybody knows that. When I put a guy in a certain position, it doesn’t matter whether it’s Jaso, David Freese or Josh, it doesn’t really matter who it is, we just want to cover that area. He’s a good enough athlete to be able to do that.”

Hurdle said he wouldn’t discuss publicly the amount of the defensive shifts and formation that Bell has been able to absorb, only saying that he tries to put his players “in the best opportunities to have success.”

Meanwhile, Leyva will continue to work with Bell on improving his craft.

“We came out yesterday and worked on some of his weaknesses,” Leyva said, specifically noting that throwing to other bases is something they’re working on. “We have to keep working at it. It’s a progress to get it to where we want it go. The best part of it is this kid doesn’t tire. He wants to get better. He wants to learn a position. He knows that it’s the key for him to stay in the major leagues. He’s going to be OK. He’s adequate right now and eventually might become a pretty good first-baseman just by playing it and us helping him out by putting him in the right spot.”

Leyva expects Bell to be defensively substituted for regularly, as the Pirates have done with Jaso and Pedro Alvarez in the past. That’s not necessarily a knock on Bell, just a fundamental belief among the coaching staff that the best defenders need to be out there when protecting a late lead.

“He doesn’t have to make great plays, he just makes routine plays,” Leyva said. “That’s all we want him to do.”

ON THE FARM

Hurdle got a good report from Altoona pitching coach Justin Meccage about Tyler Glasnow’s rehab start with the Curve.
“As the outing went on, his command improved,” Hurdle said. “Threw all three pitches. He threw his changeup more than they anticipated and they were pleased with it.”

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