Bell looks to make noise as the DH in DC

This story was excerpted from Jessica Camerato’s Nationals Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

A month ago, Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo noted at the Winter Meetings, “when you come 29th in home runs and towards the bottom in slug, that’s a point of emphasis for us this offseason.”

Weeks later, the Nats brought back veteran designated hitter/first baseman Josh Bell, who has a clear emphasis for his second stint in Washington, D.C.

“I know the importance of what this team needs is slug,” said Bell, 32. “For me to dive into DHing and understand that I have to put my body in position to slug, I have to work out, train to be able to do that for the team from both sides of the plate for 162 games. … I'm excited for that opportunity, and hopefully we all reap the benefits of me being a powerhouse threat.”

Bell will focus on the DH role with the Nationals acquiring Gold Glove first baseman Nathaniel Lowe from Texas this winter. Bell is looking to build on the offensive momentum he found last season playing for Miami and Arizona and establishing consistency to combat offensive streakiness.

He slashed .249/.319/.405 with 23 doubles, two triples, 19 homers and 71 RBIs in 145 games in 2024, including a .304 batting average with six doubles, 10 homers and 31 RBIs in 48 games after July 21.

“I'm excited for this opportunity this year knowing I'm going to be primarily DHing,” said Bell, a switch-hitter. “It's just been tough finding what works righty and then finding what works lefty, and then also finding how I can be the best first baseman I can be. Hopefully, this change will allow me to just focus on two swings and different approaches from different arm angles on both sides of the mound. I can do that and put myself in position to compete. I'll just be a little bit better for a little bit longer and hopefully revamp my career.”

Last season, the Nationals finished with the second-lowest slugging percentage (.375) and the fewest home runs (135) in the National League. They compiled a minus-104 run differential as they went 71-91 for the second year in a row.

But the Nats also led all teams in stolen bases (233), and Bell is enthusiastic to pair his power with that speed. He got a glimpse of that potential while teaming up with baserunning run value leader Corbin Carroll in Arizona.

“I've had a tough time the last couple of years just with getting the ball off the ground,” Bell said. “Knowing that I'm a double-play candidate, one of the things I'm working on this offseason is just trying to get the ball in the air as much as possible and taking whatever comes with that.

“I know in the past, some guys will be at first, and if they're just 'no go, red light,' then my contact could be a problem. Just knowing that I’ll have speed in front of me, knowing that if I have to take a pitch here and there and let the guy go to second base -- possibly third -- the team will benefit from that. So I'm definitely excited. I know that makes the team better all around. Power and slug, coupled with speed and with the willingness to go at the right time, it’s definitely a dangerous combination.”

Bell reflected on his baseball past when thinking about who he wants to be in his 10th Major League season. He considers himself “an old-school hitter” who values putting the ball in play.

“That's just kind of in my DNA,” Bell said. “But understanding and seeing MVPs and whatnot the last few years, they hit 40-plus homers and they might strike out 150-plus times, but that doesn't get talked about. The slug is the most important thing. That's where WAR is, that's what wins games.

“But this offseason, changing my hitting philosophy, changing the drills and just understanding that I have to hang on my backside a little bit more, focus on letting the ball travel, but also try to stay connected as tightly as I can to get the ball in the air. … [If I] train to do that and work with our strength team, and understand that I have a big frame, I should probably hit more than 19 home runs a season.

“Hopefully a year from now, I can be looking back at the season where I hit 40-plus [homers] and breaking my own records for slug in a season. So that's the goal.”