Jay Bell

Shortstop / Second baseman

Born: December 11, 1965 (age 51)
Eglin AFB, Florida

Batted: Right

Threw: Right

MLB debut

September 29, 1986, for the Cleveland Indians

Last MLB appearance

September 28, 2003, for the New York Mets

MLB statistics

Batting average

.265

Home runs

195

Runs batted in

860

Teams

Career highlights and awards

Jay Stuart Bell (born December 11, 1965) is a former Major League Baseball shortstop who played for the Cleveland Indians (1986–88), Pittsburgh Pirates (1989–96), Kansas City Royals (1997), Arizona Diamondbacks (1998–2002) and New York Mets (2003). He was most recently the bench coach for the Cincinnati Reds, and was the bench coach for the New Zealand national baseball team that competed in the 2013 World Baseball Classic.

Bell played his high school baseball at J.M. Tate High School, located in Cantonment, Florida. Originally a first-round pick of the Minnesota Twins in 1984, Bell made 129 errors over his first three minor-league seasons. The following year he was traded to the Cleveland Indians in a deal that brought starter Bert Blyleven to the Twins. When he finally reached the majors in 1986, he faced Blyleven in his first major-league at-bat. During this moment, Bell ripped the first pitch he saw from Blyleven for a home run.

Bell maintained his reputation as one of the best shortstops in the 1990s. His range was only average but he had a great knowledge of the hitters and positioned himself well. He won a Gold Glove Award in 1993, breaking a string of thirteen straight National League Gold Gloves at shortstop by Ozzie Smith. It was also the first Gold Glove by a Pirate shortstop since Gene Alley's back-to-back honors in 1966 and 1967.

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