David Bell
Bell with the Cincinnati Reds in 2022
Cincinnati Reds – No. 25
Third baseman / Second baseman / Manager
Born: (1972-09-14) September 14, 1972
Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
MLB debut
May 3, 1995, for the Cleveland Indians
Last MLB appearance
October 1, 2006, for the Milwaukee Brewers
MLB statistics
Batting average.257
Home runs123
Runs batted in589
Managerial record333–375
Winning %.470
Teams
As player
As manager
As coach

David Michael Bell (born September 14, 1972) is an American former professional baseball third baseman, who is currently the manager for the Cincinnati Reds of Major League Baseball (MLB). Over the course of his 12-year MLB playing career, Bell appeared at all four infield positions while playing for the Cleveland Indians, St. Louis Cardinals, Seattle Mariners, San Francisco Giants, Philadelphia Phillies, and Milwaukee Brewers. He made his MLB debut for the Indians in 1995.

After his retirement as an active player, Bell served as manager of the Triple-A Louisville Bats and (former) Double-A Carolina Mudcats, both in the Reds organization, prior to his promotion to Reds skipper, late in 2018.

The grandson of Gus Bell, son of Buddy Bell, and brother of Mike Bell, David Bell is a member of one of five families to have three generations play in the Major Leagues. In addition, David and Buddy are the fifth father-son pair to serve as major league managers, joining Connie and Earle Mack, George and Dick Sisler, Bob and Joel Skinner, and Bob and Aaron Boone.[1]

Amateur career

Bell attended Moeller High School in Cincinnati, Ohio. Playing for the school's varsity baseball team for three years, where he ranks in the Top Ten in five career categories including doubles and plate appearances. He ranks among the top in Single Season Doubles and Most Doubles in one game.[2] He also played Mickey Mantle and Connie Mack Baseball National Championship teams in 1988 and 1989 respectively as well as leading Moeller to a state championship in 1989.[3] Bell was also a member of the Moeller boys' basketball team.[4] Bell committed to play baseball at the University of Kentucky as a junior.[2]

Professional career

Draft and minor leagues

After the Cleveland Indians selected Bell with their pick in the seventh round (190th overall),[5] Bell decided to forgo his commitment to Kentucky.

Major League career

Cleveland Indians

Bell made his Major League debut on May 3, 1995 as a pinch hitter for Jim Thome and stayed in the game in a defensive replacement.[6] He was optioned to the Buffalo Bisons on May 8, 1995. He hit .272 with eight home runs and 34 RBIs in 70 games.

St. Louis Cardinals

On July 27, 1995, Bell was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals along with Pepe McNeal and Rick Heiserman for Ken Hill.[7]

Return to Cleveland

On April 14, 1998, Bell was claimed off waivers by the Indians.[8] On April 15, he hit the first inside-the-park home run in Jacobs Field history, and the first for the Indians since 1989.[9]

Seattle Mariners

On August 31, 1998, Bell was traded to the Seattle Mariners for Joey Cora.[10] Bell was re-signed on December 19, 2001.

San Francisco Giants

On January 25, 2002, Bell was traded to the San Francisco Giants for Desi Relaford so he could have a chance to play every day.[11] Bell scored the 2002 NLCS winning run for the San Francisco Giants from second on Kenny Lofton's single. Bell was the runner bearing down on home plate in Game 5 of the 2002 World Series when J. T. Snow lifted 3 year old batboy Darren Baker out of harm's way.[12] Near the end of the season, he won the 2002 Willie Mac Award for his spirit and leadership – as voted on by his teammates and coaching staff.

Philadelphia Phillies

Bell with the Phillies in 2004

On December 2, 2002, Bell signed a four-year $17 million deal with the Philadelphia Phillies.[13] He made Major League history on June 28, 2004, by joining his grandfather, Gus Bell, as the first grandfather-grandson combination to hit for the cycle.

Milwaukee Brewers

Bell was traded from the Philadelphia Phillies to the Milwaukee Brewers on July 28, 2006, in a deal that swapped him for minor league pitcher Wilfrido Laureano.[14] The Brewers chose not to re-sign Bell after the 2006 season, and he became a free agent.

Coaching career

On October 31, 2008, the Cincinnati Reds named Bell the manager for their Double-A affiliate, the Carolina Mudcats.[15] Bell spent three seasons as the Mudcats manager. In November 2011 he was named manager of the Reds' Triple-A affiliate Louisville Bats.[16]

On October 23, 2012, the Chicago Cubs named Bell the third base coach for the Major League club.

On December 17, 2013, the St. Louis Cardinals announced hiring Bell as their new assistant hitting coach.[17]

From 2015 through 2017, Bell served as the Cardinals' bench coach. He left the team on October 20, 2017, to become the vice president of player development for the San Francisco Giants.[18]

Managing career

Cincinnati Reds

Bell, as the Reds manager, argues with umpire Jim Reynolds during a game in the 2021 season

On October 21, 2018, the Cincinnati Reds announced Bell had been hired as the 63rd manager in franchise history.[19] The contract spans three years with a club option for a fourth.[19]

In an April 7, 2019 game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Bell was ejected after his role in a bench clearing incident involving Chris Archer, Derek Dietrich, Yasiel Puig, Amir Garrett, Keone Kela, and Felipe Vázquez. This was Bell's first career managerial ejection. Bell received a one-game suspension following the incident on April 9. On July 30, 2019, another bench-clearing mash-up occurred between the Reds and Pirates, with Bell (who had been ejected from the game in the previous half-inning) involved in it. On August 1, 2019, Bell received a 6-game suspension without eligibility to appeal.

On September 22, 2021, Bell agreed to a two-year contract extension with the Reds.[20]

On July 28, 2023, Bell agreed to a contract extension with the Reds through 2026.[21]

Managerial record

As of October 2nd, 2023 [22]
TeamYearRegular seasonPostseason
GamesWonLostWin %FinishWonLostWin %Result
CIN2019 1627587.4634th in NL Central––––
CIN2020 603129.5172nd in NL Central02.000Lost NLWC (ATL)
CIN2021 1628379.5123rd in NL Central––––
CIN2022 16262100.3835th in NL Central––––
CIN2023 1628280.5063rd in NL Central––––
Total708333375.47002.000

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Former Mariner David Bell hired as manager of Reds". The Seattle Times. The Associated Press. 21 October 2018. Retrieved 22 October 2018.
  2. 1 2 Shelton, Mark (October 21, 2018). "David Bell '90 Named Cincinnati Reds New Manager". www.letsgobigmoe.com. ESP Media, LLC. Retrieved January 15, 2019.
  3. ↑ LaRosa, Buddy. "Announcing the 2009 Hall of Fame Inductees". www.larosasmvp.com. LaRosa MVP. Retrieved January 15, 2019.
  4. ↑ Springer, Scott (October 22, 2018). "New Cincinnati Reds skipper David Bell led Moeller Crusaders to state title". www.January 15, 2019. USA Today.
  5. ↑ Lastoria, Tony (January 24, 2016). "Looking Back at the Indians' Draft: 1990". www.247spots.com. CBS Interactive. Retrieved January 15, 2019.
  6. ↑ "Indians 14 - Tigers 7, May 3, 1995". www.baseball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved January 15, 2019.
  7. ↑ Chass, Murray (July 28, 1995). "BASEBALL; Rich Get Richer: Angels Land Abbott; Indians Add Hill". The New York Times. Retrieved January 15, 2019.
  8. ↑ "Transactions". www.courant.com. The Hartford Courant. April 15, 1998. Retrieved January 15, 2019.
  9. ↑ "Cleveland's Bell Hits Homerun". www.apnews.com. The Associated Press. April 15, 1998. Retrieved January 15, 2019.
  10. ↑ "Indians Deal for Cora". www.orlandosentinel.com. Orlando Sentinel. September 1, 1998. Retrieved January 15, 2019.
  11. ↑ "M's trade David Bell for Giants' Relaford". www.community.seattletimes.nwsource.com. The Seattle Times. January 25, 2002. Retrieved January 15, 2019.
  12. ↑ Shea, John (May 28, 2017). "The little batboy who could: Darren Baker, now 18, grows up". www.sfchronicle.com. San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved January 15, 2019.
  13. ↑ "Bell leaves Giants for $17 million deal with Phils". www.aespncdn.com. ESPN Internet Ventures. December 2, 2002. Retrieved January 15, 2019.
  14. ↑ "Phillies trade Bell to Brewers for minor-league pitcher". www.espn.com. ESPN Internet Ventures. July 28, 2006. Retrieved January 15, 2019.
  15. ↑ Sheldon, Mark (2008-10-31). "Another Bell joins Reds organization". MLB.com. Retrieved 2008-10-31.
  16. ↑ Grant, Michael (2011-11-29). "David Bell to manage the Louisville Bats, replacing Rick Sweet". courier-journal.com. Retrieved 2011-11-29.
  17. ↑ Langosch, Jenifer (17 December 2013). "Cards hire Bell to be assistant hitting coach". The Official Site of the St. Louis Cardinals. MLB.com.
  18. ↑ "Bench coach Bell departs for Giants". MLB.com. October 20, 2017. Archived from the original on October 21, 2017. Retrieved October 20, 2017.
  19. 1 2 Perry, Dayn (October 21, 2018). "Reds hire new manager, sign Cincinnati native David Bell to three-year deal". CBSSports.com. Retrieved October 21, 2018.
  20. ↑ "David Bell, Reds agree to contract extension".
  21. ↑ Gonzalez, Alden (July 28, 2023). "Reds reward manager David Bell with 3-year contract extension". ESPN.com. Retrieved July 30, 2023.
  22. ↑ "David Bell Managerial Record".
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