Early MVP candidate Josh Bell plays in 507 of Pirates’ first 510 innings

There are plenty of reasons why Josh Bell has been one of the best players in the majors over the past month. But as the saying goes, sometimes the best ability is availability.

And no one has been more available than Bell.

Heading into Saturday’s game, the Pittsburgh Pirates had played 510 innings this season. Bell played 507 of them.

“There’s guys who want to play every day, and there’s guys who have been able to show you that they can maintain a level of performance,” Hurdle said.

“(Bell) is cut from a little different cloth along those lines.”

Bell was in the lineup Saturday for the 57th consecutive game to begin the season. No other Pirates player has appeared in more than 54 games, and nobody had started more than 47 (Adam Frazier).

Bell also was the final Pirates player to appear in every game to begin last season. Since he became a regular on Opening Day 2017, Bell has missed just 17 of the Pirates’ 381 games.

Josh Bell played in 159/162 games last year. You suggesting he should've played more?

— sad Jung Ho Kang enthusiast (@Kangorrhea) May 31, 2018

Hurdle acknowledges first base is perhaps the easiest position at which to build a high volume of games. Bell has played all but one of this season’s games at first (the other was as a designated hitter). The Pirates also don’t have a true first baseman to serve as a backup.

But perhaps the most obvious reason the Pirates haven’t taken the Bell out of the lineup is he has been so good. He entered Saturday leading the majors in extra-base hits 40) and was third in the National League in average (.343), fourth in home runs (18) and tied for first in total bases (152).

“Josh Bell has made more adjustments to his away-from-game preparation than maybe he’s made in the box,” Hurdle said.

“And yes, he does want to play every day. He’s shown the ability to play a great volume of games his rookie year.”

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