Juan Bell
Encyclopedia
Juan Bell Mathey is a former professional baseball player who played in the major leagues primarily as an infielder from 1989-1995.
in at the age of 16. After spending four seasons in the Dodgers minor league system, he was traded to the Baltimore Orioles
along with relief pitcher
s Brian Holton
and Ken Howell
in exchange for Eddie Murray
.
. In , Bell got his chance at regular playing time, splitting time at second base with Billy Ripken
alongside Billy's brother, Cal Ripken, Jr.
, the Orioles' regular shortstop. However, Bell hit just .172, and the next spring he was beaten out by Mark McLemore
and sent back to the minors.
for infielder Steve Scarsone
, and Bell was back in the majors. In 46 games as the Phils' regular shortstop over the remainder of the season, Bell hit .204, but it was enough to allow him to stick with the big club in spring training
. Once again, however, Bell's bat was not up to the task, as he hit just .200 in 65 at bat
s before being placed on waivers.
, who gave him his most extended shot at a regular job yet. Bell responded with what was his best season, batting .234 with career highs in home runs (5) and RBI (29). The following spring, he was released by the Brewers, who had signed Jody Reed
in the offseason to play second base.
and Boston Red Sox
. He even set a career high in batting average (.278) in with the Expos, although it was in just 97 at bats. He spent most of those two seasons in the minor leagues, though, and continued to play in the minors until , finishing up his career with the Syracuse SkyChiefs
in the Toronto Blue Jays
system. Bell ended his career with a batting average of just .212 in 329 games.
Early career
Bell was originally signed by the Los Angeles DodgersLos Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
in at the age of 16. After spending four seasons in the Dodgers minor league system, he was traded to the Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
along with relief pitcher
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
s Brian Holton
Brian Holton
Brian John Holton , is a former professional baseball player who pitched in the Major Leagues primarily in relief from 1985-1990. He was a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers 1988 World Series winners, notching a save in game 5 of the 1988 NLCS against the New York Mets along the way...
and Ken Howell
Ken Howell
Kenneth Howell, Jr. , is a former professional baseball player.Howell was born in Detroit, Michigan, and pitched in the Major Leagues from 1984-90...
in exchange for Eddie Murray
Eddie Murray
Eddie Clarence Murray , nicknamed "Steady Eddie", is a former Major League Baseball first baseman and designated hitter. He was known as one of the most reliable and productive hitters of his era. Murray is regarded as one of the best switch hitters ever to play the game...
.
With the Orioles
Bell would see his first major league action the following season, getting called up from the minors in September, . Between that season and , Bell would play in just 13 games, mostly as a pinch runnerPinch runner
A pinch runner is a baseball player substituted for the specific purpose of replacing a player on base. In the typical case, the pinch runner is faster or otherwise more skilled at base-running than the player for whom the pinch runner has been substituted...
. In , Bell got his chance at regular playing time, splitting time at second base with Billy Ripken
Billy Ripken
William Oliver Ripken is an American radio personality for XM Satellite Radio, a studio analyst for MLB Network's "MLB Tonight," and is a former infielder in Major League Baseball from –...
alongside Billy's brother, Cal Ripken, Jr.
Cal Ripken, Jr.
Calvin Edwin "Cal" Ripken, Jr. , nicknamed "Iron Man", is a former Major League Baseball shortstop and third baseman. He played his entire 21-year baseball career for the Baltimore Orioles ....
, the Orioles' regular shortstop. However, Bell hit just .172, and the next spring he was beaten out by Mark McLemore
Mark McLemore
Mark Tremell McLemore is a former second baseman and utility player in Major League Baseball....
and sent back to the minors.
With the Phillies
In August , Bell was traded in August to the Philadelphia PhilliesPhiladelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
for infielder Steve Scarsone
Steve Scarsone
Steven Wayne Scarsone , is a retired professional baseball infielder. He played all or part of seven seasons in the major leagues between 1992 and 1999. A former manager of the Kane County Cougars, he was named manager of the Stockton Ports on Jan. 6, 2010.He attended Canyon High School in his...
, and Bell was back in the majors. In 46 games as the Phils' regular shortstop over the remainder of the season, Bell hit .204, but it was enough to allow him to stick with the big club in spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
. Once again, however, Bell's bat was not up to the task, as he hit just .200 in 65 at bat
At bat
In baseball, an at bat or time at bat is used to calculate certain statistics, including batting average, on base percentage, and slugging percentage. It is a more restricted definition of a plate appearance...
s before being placed on waivers.
With the Brewers
Bell was claimed by the Milwaukee BrewersMilwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
, who gave him his most extended shot at a regular job yet. Bell responded with what was his best season, batting .234 with career highs in home runs (5) and RBI (29). The following spring, he was released by the Brewers, who had signed Jody Reed
Jody Reed
Jody Eric Reed is a former second baseman in Major League Baseball who had an 11-year career from 1987-1997. The 5'9" second baseman played with the Boston Red Sox from 1987–1992, and in 1990 he led the American League with 45 doubles and finished 10th in the AL with 173 hits...
in the offseason to play second base.
Career winding down
In the next two seasons, Bell would get additional trials from the Montreal ExposMontreal Expos
The Montreal Expos were a Major League Baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec from 1969 through 2004, holding the first MLB franchise awarded outside the United States. After the 2004 season, MLB moved the Expos to Washington, D.C. and renamed them the Nationals.Named after the Expo 67 World's...
and Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
. He even set a career high in batting average (.278) in with the Expos, although it was in just 97 at bats. He spent most of those two seasons in the minor leagues, though, and continued to play in the minors until , finishing up his career with the Syracuse SkyChiefs
Syracuse SkyChiefs
The Syracuse Chiefs are a minor league baseball team based in Syracuse, New York. The team plays in the International League and is the Triple-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals...
in the Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
system. Bell ended his career with a batting average of just .212 in 329 games.