Orioles recalled 3B Josh Bell from Triple-A Norfolk.

Bell should get a shot at some playing time in the DH slot with Luke Scott and Vlad Guerrero out. He's starting at third base Saturday. The 24-year-old has posted a .254/.310/.435 batting line with 16 homers at Norfolk this season.

Josh Bell will be promoted from Triple-A Norfolk when the Orioles place Luke Scott on the disabled list.

Bell singled in his lone at-bat earlier this season for the O's, but he posted a woeful 53/2 K/BB ratio last season for them. He could get some time in the DH slot with Luke Scott and Vlad Guerrero out and could be worth a look in AL-only formats if he gets semi-regular playing time.

Orioles optioned 3B Josh Bell to Triple-A Norfolk.

Bell was only in the major leagues for a day or two to provide depth on the Orioles' bench.

Orioles recalled 3B Josh Bell from Triple-A Norfolk.

After posting an awful 53/2 K/BB ratio in his first exposure to the big leagues last season, the team brought in Mark Reynolds to play the hot corner in the offseason. The 24-year-old has hit just .257/.313/.444 in 368 plate appearances for Norfolk this season and isn't worth owning in fantasy leagues.

Orioles prospect Josh Bell is having an up-and-down season for Triple-A Norfolk.

Through his first 290 plate appearances, Bell is batting just .255 with a .297 on-base percentage. He has homered 12 times in 274 at-bats, but has also notched 75 strikeouts while committing 13 errors at third base. If you've been holding onto him in a deeper AL-only league, you might end up disappointed.

The Pirates selected high school outfielder Josh Bell with the first pick in the second round.

Bell is one of the top high school hitters in the country and might have been a Top 10 pick if not for his strong desire to attend the University of Texas. The Pirates will have to seriously buck up to get him signed. A 6-foot-4 switch-hitter, Bell has excellent tools and projects as a quality major league corner outfielder.

Orioles prospect third baseman Josh Bell left Tuesday's game with Triple-A Norfolk due to swelling in his left knee.

Bell is only expected to miss a day or two. The 24-year-old third baseman is batting .273/.291/.506 with four homers and 11 RBI over his first 79 plate appearances with the Tides this season.

Orioles optioned 3B Josh Bell to Triple-A Norfolk.

It's the right move. Orioles manager Buck Showalter toyed around with the idea of keeping Bell around as a backup at the corner infield positions, but the 24-year-old is better off playing every day at the Triple-A level. After posting an awful 53/2 K/BB ratio in his first exposure to the big leagues last season, the presence of Mark Reynolds could be a blessing in disguise for his development.

Josh Bell will start at first base Thursday against the Twins.

Orioles manager Buck Showalter said Wednesday that Bell could potentially get more work at first base during spring training and he obviously wasn't kidding. Bell has primary been a third baseman as a professional, but the versatility would certainly improve his chances of sticking on the major league roster. He's still probably better off playing everyday at Triple-A Norfolk, though.

Orioles manager Buck Showalter said that Josh Bell could "potentially" get more work at first base during exhibition action.

Bell, normally a third baseman, has been working with bench and infield coach Willie Randolph at first base during workouts. He even appeared at the position in Tuesday's game against the Rays. The versatility could help his case to make the roster, but he'll likely begin the season at Triple-A Norfolk, where he can play everyday.

Josh Bell lost 20 pounds over the offseason.

Though he didn't think the extra weight he put on last season caused his struggles with the O's, Bell lost the weight after team officials, including manager Buck Showalter, encouraged him to improve his conditioning. Despite the improved conditioning, Bell will almost certainly begin the season at Triple-A after the additions of Mark Reynolds and Derrek Lee.

Orioles manager Buck Showalter hasn't dismissed the possibility that Josh Bell could make the club's Opening Day roster.

"There's a way he can make this club if I feel like the at-bats are there for him, being a switch-hitter," said Showalter. "Izzy (Cesar Izturis) has the middle infield covered, so that guy doesn't necessarily have to be a guy who can play the middle of the infield." Bell really struggled in his first taste of the majors last season, batting just .214/.224/.302 with 53 strikeouts over 159 at-bats. Showalter is keeping the youngster focused with this kind of talk, but the addition of Mark Reynolds almost guarantees that Bell will begin the season at Triple-A Norfolk.

After working out with former Oriole Brady Anderson during the off-season, Josh Bell appears to be in better shape than last year.

"I feel great," he said. "I'm running well. Everything's stronger." Bell is a solid minor league prospect, but didn't support his case during a brief major league stint last year, hitting .214/.224/.302 with 53 strikeouts in 159 at-bats. Mark Reynolds' recent signing means Bell is expected to play another season at Triple-A Norfolk.

The Orioles have been fielding calls for Josh Bell and haven't ruled out a position switch for him.

Bell is now blocked at third base with the acquisition of Mark Reynolds. He could move across the diamond to first base, but more likely he'll just wind up back at Triple-A to begin the 2011 season. Bell struck out 53 times and walked just twice in 159 at-bats for the O's in 2010, but he's only 24 and still has significant upside.

Josh Bell returned to action on Tuesday September 14.

Josh Bell (hand) struck out as a pinch-hitter Monday.

Bell suffered a bruise on his right hand this weekend when he misplayed a Miguel Cabrera grounder. He's still considered day-to-day.

Josh Bell returned to action on Monday September 13.

Josh Bell received good news Sunday when X-rays came back negative on his right hand.

Bell was hit in the hand while attempting to field a ground ball hill by Miguel Cabrera in the sixth inning Saturday. He was available to play Sunday, but was not in the starting lineup. Consider the young third baseman day-to-day.

Josh Bell will receive a precautionary X-ray on his right hand Sunday.

Bell injured the hand trying to field the Tigers' Miguel Cabrera's hard grounder in the sixth inning but was able to stay in the game. He had the hand wrapped in ice after the game but said he didn't think the injury was anything to worry about. He'll surely sit out Sunday's game.

Josh Bell busted out on Saturday afternoon, slugging his first two career home runs and driving in five in an 8-6 win over the Rangers.

Bell finished the afternoon 3-for-4 with three runs scored. He connected for a two-run homer in the third and a three-run shot in a five-run fifth. He just missed a third home run in the sixth inning, however it bounced off the top of the fence in right field for a hard hit single. Bell entered play Saturday with a .216 batting average over his first 74 at-bats in the big leagues, but this is the power potential that made him the top position prospect in the O's system coming into the season. Third base should be all his in 2011.