Heath Bell

Infobox MLB player
name=Heath Bell

---

width=300
caption=Bell with the Padres in 2008
position=Relief Pitcher
team=San Diego Padres
number=21
bats=Right
throws=Right
birthdate=birth date and age|1977|9|29
debutdate=August 24
debutyear=2004
debutteam=New York Mets
statyear=June 29, 2008
stat1label=Win-Loss
stat1value=12-12
stat2label=Earned Run Average
stat2value=3.32
stat3label=Strikeouts
stat3value=243
teams=
*New York Mets (by|2004-by|2006)
*San Diego Padres (by|2007-present)

Heath Justin Bell (born September 29, 1977 in Oceanside, California) is a right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball with the San Diego Padres.

High School Years

Bell attended Tustin High School in Tustin, California, which is about 50 miles from his birthplace in Oceanside and 90 miles from his current job in San Diego. He lettered in football, basketball, and baseball.

He also took drama during his sophomore year, appearing in the play "Noises Off".

Junior College Years

Bell attended Santiago Canyon College where he was named a freshman All-American in 1997.

Pro career

He was selected by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in the 69th round of the by|1997 amateur draft but did not begin his professional career until by|1998 when he signed with the New York Mets as an undrafted free agent.

After toiling in the Mets minor league system for eight seasons, Bell made his major league debut on August 24, by|2004 pitching two scoreless innings with three strikeouts against his current club, the Padres. The righty spent the next two seasons shuttling between the Mets and their Triple-A affiliate Norfolk, mainly filling in as an injury replacement.

On November 15, by|2006, Bell was traded with fellow relief pitcher Royce Ring to San Diego for outfielder Ben Johnson and reliever Jon Adkins. He is now part of the highly-regarded Padres bullpen, where he has replaced Scott Linebrink as the 8th inning setup man before Trevor Hoffman closes the game.

couting report

Generally a power pitcher, Bell has averaged nearly a full strikeout per inning but also proved to be hittable in his by|2005 sophomore season allowing 10.8 hits per nine innings and a very high 5.59 earned run average. Bell has a 94-98 mph fastball, usually sitting between 95 and 96. He also has an 11-5 curveball in the low 80s [http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/y2007/gd.html?2007_10_01_sdnmlb_colmlb_1] .

Personal information

Bell is married with three children and resides in Port St. Lucie, Florida.

Bell's cousin is actor and musician Drake Bell.

ee also

* San Diego Padres all-time roster

External links

*Baseballstats|mlb=425514 |espn=6084 |br=b/bellhe01 |fangraphs=2080 |cube=B/heath-bell