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Josh Bell 2019 Outlook: Full Rebound May Not Happen
6 years agoPittsburgh Pirates first baseman Josh Bell was one of the bigger letdowns of the 2018 fantasy baseball season after an impressive rookie campaign. He managed just 12 home runs and drove in 62 runs over 501 at-bats, barely replacement-level numbers, after jacking 26 HR and driving in 90 the year before. A former top prospect, the team is fully invested in him as the regular first baseman and appears serious about staying in contention in 2019. Still, it's unlikely he can replicate those rookie numbers given his track record in the minors. Bell had never hit more than 14 HR in a season before 2017 and has consistently held a GB/FB rate above 1.50. He is a solid player in real-life who possesses raw power but doesn't elevate the ball enough to be a fantasy weapon. He is currently being drafted alongside young first basemen like Peter Alonso and Jake Bauers, each of which has more upside and should be targeted first.
