How Josh Bell's Swing Adjustments Turned Around His 2025 Season

[Cory Moen]

Image courtesy of Brad Mills-Imagn Images

When Josh Bell signed a one-year contract with the Washington Nationals for the 2025 season, he wanted to change his swing and hit for more power. His hopes were to hit more home runs, and he didn’t mind striking out a bit more. He adjusted his swing and his stance, both from the left side of the plate and the right side of the plate. His stance was more upright, and he utilized a slightly higher leg kick than he previously had.

While these changes are not uncommon in the modern game, Bell had some lousy results immediately after making them. Through May 14th, he had a wRC+ of 46, with a slash line of .146/.234/.285. Through this same time period, he had a lower average exit velocity, a higher strikeout rate, and a lower walk rate than his career numbers. His hard-hit rate was the lowest it had been since 2017.

Bell was hoping to hit for more power, envisioning more home runs and doubles by making these changes to his swing, but the results did not follow. In the first six weeks or so of the season, he was one of the worst hitters in the major leagues. The switch-hitter struggled from both sides: more fly balls, fewer line drives, more chasing outside the zone. Too many easy outs.

From the outside, one may have thought this was Bell aging and that he would never be the same, especially given some downward trends in contact quality over multiple seasons. However, Bell was able to make in-season adjustments to not only improve his numbers, but give more hope for future years as well. This is likely what caught the Twins' eye, compelling them to give the 1B/DH a bigger contract than anyone they signed last offseason.

“I just tried to lower my launch angle, tried to focus on squaring up the ball as best as I can, tried to get my OPS over .600 -- so, I’ve done that,” a resurgent Bell said around the All-Star break. “Now I'm fighting for .700. We'll see where we go from there.”

From May 15th until the end of the season, Bell hit for a wRC+ of 130, which is 30% above league average. His slash line of .272/.358/..467 was the improvement he and the Nationals were hoping for. Virtually every metric trended in the right direction as visible changes took hold, and that creates room for healthy optimism going forward.

The Bell signing is one that will not only lengthen the Twins lineup, but he will provide a veteran presence as someone who has gone through struggles and shown the ability to make in-season adjustments. The Twins surely value this in a veteran for a young and less experienced roster.

Are you a believer in Josh Bell's turnaround? Share your thoughts below!

 

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[Gamblerssoftball]

This, and clubhouse presence are what makes this a better signing than some might think. He's a good addition on a relatively young team.

[jmlease1]

If he's the hitter from the second half of 2025, then he'll be a very useful addition to the Twins lineup. There's reason to think he can repeat that, but there's also risk. But this is the kind of risk I'm ok with them taking? He's not blocking anyone, he makes us less reliant on Clemens, and if he gets back to career averages from the right side then he'll help us not get killed by LHP.

I feel like he's likely to raise the floor for the Twins while still having some potential to raise the ceiling.

Now, add in a couple of veteran relievers and maybe upgrade the backup SS (I'm unenthusiastic about Kreidler for sure) while sending Outman off the roster and the outlook improves even on a Pohlad budget...

[mickster]

30 minutes ago, jmlease1 said:

If he's the hitter from the second half of 2025, then he'll be a very useful addition to the Twins lineup. There's reason to think he can repeat that, but there's also risk. But this is the kind of risk I'm ok with them taking? He's not blocking anyone, he makes us less reliant on Clemens, and if he gets back to career averages from the right side then he'll help us not get killed by LHP.

I feel like he's likely to raise the floor for the Twins while still having some potential to raise the ceiling.

Now, add in a couple of veteran relievers and maybe upgrade the backup SS (I'm unenthusiastic about Kreidler for sure) while sending Outman off the roster and the outlook improves even on a Pohlad budget...

I am good with this signing.   Clemens is better not playing everyday, but playing enough and moving around.   No prospect waiting to break through at 1B, and until Wallner, Keachall, Lewis, or someone other than Julien is told to find a 1B mit this is a better option than before the signing

[thelanges5]

He’s a good, not great signing. I’m liking this addition. More curious in the BP construction and why Larnach, Gasper, Outman are still on the roster. 

[DJL44]

He appears to have made a successful adjustment. Now pitchers will change how they are attacking him. It's a game of constant adjustments.

[old nurse]

Borrego will make him a GG 1B

[DocBauer]

His BAT plays. Period. He helps the lineup. Period. Hopefully his defense is mitigated by alignment and potential help from is fellow INF. 

[High heat]

With the budget and free agent basket we were shopping in I think Bell is very good get.  I hope he plays more DH than 1B and maybe there is another position player addition coming to. (Mayo addition with a Larnach subtraction, probably not in the same deal tho)

 

An addition of a RH hitting SS good defensive SS would when facing lefties could slide Keaschell to 1B and Lee to 2B.  Keeping Bell at DH would fit nicely as well.

 

[CRF]

I guess I'm ok with bringing him in. I certainly didn't expect them to do anything more than this type of FA signing. Let's hope he can hit like he's done in the past, and at least hit more consistently. The defense isn't great, but if he hits, it'll probably help us more than the defense will hurt us.

[miracleb]

16 hours ago, thelanges5 said:

He’s a good, not great signing. I’m liking this addition. More curious in the BP construction and why Larnach, Gasper, Outman are still on the roster. 

Please add Clemens to this list!   Bell should eliminate Clemens from the conversation as well..........

[Fatbat]

He is a huge upgrade over Julien,Gasper,Clemons etal. Hope he can teach Larnach and Wallner a thing or two. 

[Jeff K]

19 hours ago, jmlease1 said:

If he's the hitter from the second half of 2025, then he'll be a very useful addition to the Twins lineup. There's reason to think he can repeat that, but there's also risk. But this is the kind of risk I'm ok with them taking? He's not blocking anyone, he makes us less reliant on Clemens, and if he gets back to career averages from the right side then he'll help us not get killed by LHP.

I feel like he's likely to raise the floor for the Twins while still having some potential to raise the ceiling.

Now, add in a couple of veteran relievers and maybe upgrade the backup SS (I'm unenthusiastic about Kreidler for sure) while sending Outman off the roster and the outlook improves even on a Pohlad budget...

The hitting seems hopeful.  I'm less pleased that we have another below average fielder.  That said, if the Twins let the young prospects man the corner outfield positions, then fielding should improve...at least in the outfield.

[TopGunn#22]

I was against this signing at first.  He's such a bad defensive 1B that I just thought we'd blown it if we were intending to play him at 1B.  However, anytime a team can add a switch-hitting player with power, well, I've got to consider that a positive.  If he's the primary DH who sees very little time at 1B this could have a positive impact.  

And jmlease1 makes a good point that he's not really blocking anybody with current our roster construction.  I'm starting to come around on this move a bit. 

[Woof Bronzer]

On 12/19/2025 at 2:17 PM, Gamblerssoftball said:

This, and clubhouse presence are what makes this a better signing than some might think. He's a good addition on a relatively young team.

Clubhouse presence?  What does that mean?  

Relatively young team?????

Bell has been worse than replacement level for 3 years.  The Twins could have gotten this level of "performance" out of dozens of players in their system they are already paying.  

[Jacksson]

On 12/19/2025 at 3:33 PM, jmlease1 said:

If he's the hitter from the second half of 2025, then he'll be a very useful addition to the Twins lineup. There's reason to think he can repeat that, but there's also risk. But this is the kind of risk I'm ok with them taking? He's not blocking anyone, 

But he is blocking players, the way in which the roster is currently constructed.

Bell is either 1B or DH.  Clemens WAS to be the primary 1B.  When Bell plays 1B, who is the DH? Clemens??  Or is Clemens to become the back up 1B, 2B, 3B??Last year because of his negative fielding, Larnach was shielded from playing in the field by making him the day in day out DH.  Now that they have got BELL = They are putting Larnach back in the OF??  When Bell is the DH, what becomes of Larnach = LF.  If Larnach is in LF and Buxton and Wallner finish out the OF: what becomes of Martin?  Does Martin then lose his LF job and revert to being back up at LF, RF, CF, 2B ??  What Becomes of Roden?  Where is there room for Rodriguez, Gonzales, Outman (why is the latter still on the 40 man roster anyway ?). 

Considering the stated intention to run the bases like what took place down the stretch in 2025,  adding a SLOW running, bad defensive player, at a position staffed by a 2025 holdover makes no sense.  Whatever "the plan" is not about building a team for long term success; it's about trying to make the corporate owned season ticket holders happy so they can brag about a Josh Bell longball the next day at work and recount the number of beers they drank and the number of hot dogs they ate. Because in reality most shelling out for season tickets just want to brag about going to the game.  Most don't even know the players on the opposing team, let alone the players on the home team.
 

[RpR]

11 hours ago, Jacksson said:

But he is blocking players, the way in which the roster is currently constructed.

Bell is either 1B or DH.  Clemens WAS to be the primary 1B.  When Bell plays 1B, who is the DH? Clemens??  Or is Clemens to become the back up 1B, 2B, 3B??Last year because of his negative fielding, Larnach was shielded from playing in the field by making him the day in day out DH.  Now that they have got BELL = They are putting Larnach back in the OF??  When Bell is the DH, what becomes of Larnach = LF.  If Larnach is in LF and Buxton and Wallner finish out the OF: what becomes of Martin?  Does Martin then lose his LF job and revert to being back up at LF, RF, CF, 2B ??  What Becomes of Roden?  Where is there room for Rodriguez, Gonzales, Outman (why is the latter still on the 40 man roster anyway ?). 

Considering the stated intention to run the bases like what took place down the stretch in 2025,  adding a SLOW running, bad defensive player, at a position staffed by a 2025 holdover makes no sense.  Whatever "the plan" is not about building a team for long term success; it's about trying to make the corporate owned season ticket holders happy so they can brag about a Josh Bell longball the next day at work and recount the number of beers they drank and the number of hot dogs they ate. Because in reality most shelling out for season tickets just want to brag about going to the game.  Most don't even know the players on the opposing team, let alone the players on the home team.
 

There is none of the specter blocking now , or any time.

No one else was good enough for the job, ask Clemens, so Bell i s here.