Bell named Pirates Hitting Coach

Another former Bison has a big league job as a coach.

Former Buffalo infielder Jay Bell has returned to the Pittsburgh Pirates organization as the team's new hitting coach for manager Clint Hurdle.

Bell, 46, played in 18 major league seasons from 1986-2003 with eight of those years as a Pirate. He hit .265 with 195 home runs in 2,063 career big league games. He was a two-time National League All-Star and won a gold glove with the Buccos in 1993.

Bell played 196 games with the Bisons and has a pair of unique distinctions. Not only did he play for Buffalo at War Memorial Stadium (1987) and Pilot Field (1989), he suited up for the Herd as part of two major league affiliations.

A first round pick of the Twins in 1984, Bell was traded to the Indians in 1985 in a deal for Hall of Famer Bert Blyleven. Two years later, he hit .260 with 17 home runs and 60RBI in 110 games for the Herd. In March of 1989, Bell was then traded to the Pirates as the player to be named later in an earlier deal that sent pitcher Denny Gonzalez to Cleveland. That season, Bell played 86 games for the Bisons and hit .285 with 10 home runs and 54RBI.

The Bisons switched major league partners from the Indians to the Pirates following the 1987 season.

Bell is yet another former Bison player/manager/coach that is now coaching at the major league level. Mike Harrington from the Buffalo News chronicles the list HERE, which includes current managers John Farrell (Red Sox), Terry Collins (Mets), Eric Wedge (Mariners) and Bud Black (Padres).

 

-the herd-