- 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=Strikeout s
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-handedpitcher inMajor League Baseball with theSan 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 , andbaseball .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 freshmanAll-America n 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 scorelessinnings with threestrikeout s 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 pitcherRoyce Ring to San Diego foroutfielder Ben Johnson and relieverJon Adkins . He is now part of the highly-regarded Padres bullpen, where he has replacedScott Linebrink as the 8th inning setup man beforeTrevor 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 10.8hits per nine innings and a very high 5.59earned run average . Bell has a 94-98 mphfastball , usually sitting between 95 and 96. He also has an 11-5curveball 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
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