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Posts tagged as “Jay Bell”

  • Originally drafted by the Twins eighth overall in 1984.
  • Acquired by Cleveland in exchange for Bert Blyleven along with Rich Yett, Curt Wardle and Jim Weaver in August 1985.
  • Called up in late September 1986 and made his MLB debut against Blyleven, hitting a home run on the first pitch of his career.
  • Cleveland made room for Bell midway through the 1987 season by trading Tony Bernazard, clearing a spot for Bell at second base.
  • Following the 1987 season, Julio Franco was moved from shortstop to second base to allow Bell to shift back to shortstop, where he played in the minors and where he remained for the majority of his career.
  • Bell remained the starting shortstop from midway through the 1987 season until he was sent back to the minors in July 1988. Bell was batting .186 at the time he was sent down.
  • Bell returned in September 1988, hitting .341 down the stretch. But Cleveland had already soured on him as a hitter and traded Bell to Pittsburgh for shortstop Felix Fermin and utilityman Denny González. Bell was just 23 years old at the time of the trade.
  • Bell would spend eight years at Pittsburgh’s shortstop, helping them to the playoffs three times.
  • In 1993, Bell made his first All-Star appearance, also winning a Gold Glove and Silver Slugger.
  • Won a World Series ring in 2001 with Arizona.

Jhonkensy Noel Homers in First At-Bat

June 27, 2024

Jhonkensy Noel homered of Baltimore’s Grayson Rodriguez in his first career at-bat on Wednesday.

He’s just the fourth player in franchise history to homer in his first career at-bat, joining:

Kouzmanoff’s home run was famously a grand slam on the first pitch of his career.

Noel also wore No. 43 in his debut, a common number in team history but rarely by hitters. Noel is just the third position player to wear No. 43, joining in 1959 and in 1991. Jh