By José Alejandro Rodríguez Zas
The Santiago player Alexeis Bell He is one of the most complete players that Cuban baseball has produced in its history. Mix of power, touch, speed on the bases, good fielder and owner of a powerful arm. “Tato” Bell possessed the five tools a baseball player should have while he was active in the sport of balls and strikes.
Proof of this are their numbers in the 14 editions of the National Series in which Bell He participated, always with his team from Santiago de Cuba, although he was a reinforcement of Matanzas in his last season. The indomitable batted .320 (3,242-1036) with 201 doubles, 35 triples and 158 home runs, plus 697 RBIs and 708 runs scored, with an offensive line of .417 / .549 / .966 (OBP / SLG) / PAHO).
In his career in Cuba, Bell accumulated a total of 132 stolen bases in 183 attempts, for an excellent 72.1% effectiveness, in addition to obtaining 476 walks. On defense, he finished with a .977 average, with 43 errors in 1,830 pitches, plus 85 assists, mostly as a right fielder.
All these results in the domestic classics, in addition to his good numbers with the Cuba team, with which he was Olympic (Beijing 2008) and world runner-up (Panama 2011), holder of an Intercontinental Cup (Taipe 2010), Pan-American bronze (Guadalajara 2011 ) in addition to taking part in the III World Classic of 2013, they make Bell a player capable of teaching new generations with great quality as a coach.
Although he was unable to make it to MLB, Bell played in the United States professional baseball minor leagues on the Texas Rangers farm system during the 2016 season, in which he participated in 40 games, hitting .240 (146 -35), with 13 doubles, two home runs and 14 RBIs, earning the love and respect of the franchise managers, who have used him as a coach.
Bell is currently linked to the Texas Rangers Academy, in which he is dedicated to preparing future prospects who could obtain a professional signature.
In recent days, several Cuban players who play in Japan and in the Major Leagues, sent messages of support to the Academy, its members and Bell, which were published on the social networks of Santiago and today we share them on our website of Full swing.
The first to speak was Adeiny Hechavarría, former teammate in the Wasps Santiagueras de Bell in the National series and who currently plays in the Japan Professional Baseball League (NPB) with the team of Chiba Lotte Marines.
“I want to say hello to all the guys at the Texas Rangers Academy who are with my friend and brother Alexeis Bell, who is doing a good job there. I want to tell everyone, from my heart, to fight hard on the field, to train hard every day. Nothing is limited, keep fighting every day for what you want and keep going. No one can tell you that you cannot do anything. Fight there and keep going, ”Adeiny said before sending a direct message to Bell.
Alexeis Bell, my brother, I love you. It continues there teaching the boys how it has to be, “he added.
Andy Ibanez, an infielder for the Texas Rangers in the majors, said:
“I send my regards to all the players of the Texas Rangers Academy and keep working. I wish you many blessings in the games you have now and a special greeting to coach Alexeis Bell, one of my brothers, keep it up as he is doing an excellent job with the boys. Many blessings to all »
Similarly, the Houston Astros first baseman, Yuli gurriel, sent your message:
«I want to send a very special greeting to the boys of the Texas Rangers Academy, students of my partner and friend Alexeis Bell, a hug and many blessings to all those boys, that they continue training hard and trying hard. I love”
Alexeis Bell is a player very loved by the Cuban fans regardless of the team of their choice. Therefore, the vast majority of baseball fans on the island wish the indomitable success in his work as a coach and that he reap the expected fruits, including that of his own son who, apparently, makes for a very good player.
For now, I share a video from our YouTube channel, in which you can see the program of «The Complete Swing Show» to which “Tato” Bell was invited.
We want to say thanks to the author of this article for this outstanding material
Cuban players joined in supporting Alexeis Bell’s academy