Heath Bell
| IP | 628 |
|---|---|
| ERA | 3.497 |
| WHIP | 1.271 |
| BB/9 | 3.067 |
| SO/9 | 9.129 |
- Full name Heath Justin Bell
- Born 09/29/1977 in Oceanside, CA
- Profile Ht.: 6'3" / Wt.: 235 / Bats: R / Throws: R
- School Santa Ana College
- Debut 08/24/2004
- Drafted in the 69th round (1,583rd overall) by the Tampa Bay Rays in 1997.
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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Undrafted out of Rancho Santiago JC, the Mets signed Bell while he was pitching in the summer Alaska League. Bell posted a 2.57 ERA and saved 56 games in his first 2 1⁄2 seasons, but hit the wall hard in 2001 with a 6.02 ERA in Double-A. He opened eyes again in 2002, dominating the Eastern League in the first half to earn a promotion to Triple-A. Bell has a live low-90s fastball and a consistent slider, but his changeup has been his best pitch for most of his pro career. He works both sides of the plate, possesses plus command and has an excellent idea of what he wants to accomplish on the mound. He also keeps his pitches down in the strike zone, allowing just two homers last year. The Mets were impressed with the way Bell bounced back and added him to the 40-man roster in November. His mechanics and control went slightly awry at Norfolk last year. If he can iron that out, he'll be ready for his first major league promotion.
Best Tools List
- Rated Best Reliever in the National League in 2010
