Josh Bell has begun this season hotter than he ever has been. 26 games into the season he owns a .280/.355/.591 slash line, a .385 wOBA and a 141wRC+, placing him towards the top of a strong group of first basemen in the National League Central. Only the newly arrived Paul Goldschmidt ahead of him with a .400 wOBA and 151 wRC+.
So what has changed with Bell? After cracking 26 home runs in a strong rookie season, Bell fell backwards in his sophomore year when he only hit 12 home runs in 583 plate appearances.