Josh Bell went down in the first round of the 2019 Home Run Derby, but the Pirates' breakout star is slugging enough during games that count to raise his national profile and threaten records that have stood for more than half a century. Bell is on pace to belt 49 home runs in 2019, which would rank as the third-highest single-season total in Pirates history behind Ralph Kiner in 1949 (54 HR) and 1947 (51). Bell's projected total beats out seasons turned in by Willie Stargell (48 in 1971), Kiner (47 in 1950), Stargell (44 in 1973) and Kiner yet again in 1951 (42) and 1948 (40).
Pirates stats: Breaking down Bell’s 27 bombs
