Josh Bell Tossed From AFL Game After 0-fer Night

Josh Bell of the Pittsburgh Pirates prepares to enter the cage at Pirates City.

Josh Bell is suffering some growing pains in the Arizona Fall League.  Bell has struggled at first base for the Scottsdale Scorpions and after an 0-for-4 night is now hitting .234 for the Scorpions.   The frustration boiled over last night when Bell was ejected after arguing a batter/runner interference call in the eighth inning.

Bell had an infield flyout with a runner in scoring position in the first.  Bell flew out to left field in the third inning, leaving a teammate stranded on third base with two outs.  It was the only ball that left the infield all night for the Scottsdale Scorpions designated hitter.

The misery continued when Bell hit into a double play ball in the fifth inning which seems to be a bit of a pattern during his time in the AFL.  Bell has had trouble getting the ball out of the infield, but has also shown pop when he has been able to get lift on the baseball.

Of course, the AFL is not going to break Josh Bell, but it also looks like it might open his eyes to what it is going to take to be a big league hitter as well as a big league first baseman.

Catcher Elias Diaz had two hits, one an infield single, walked and had an infield fly out in his three official at bats.  Diaz also threw out a runner on the base paths for the Scorpions who evened their record at 7-7 on the season.