Pirates' Josh Bell plans to unplug on his day off after historic month

After Josh Bell played 27 games in 27 days, don’t expect to see him at PNC Park on Monday.

The Pittsburgh Pirates are off, and Bell plans to go out and do — of all things — some costume shopping for an upcoming road trip.

“I’m definitely not coming to the field, probably not going to watch the draft, either,” he said after the Pirates’ 4-2 loss Sunday to the Milwaukee Brewers at PNC Park. “You can say I’m going to unplug.”

Bell is two days removed from the best month by a position player in Pirates history, hitting .390 with 12 home runs and 31 RBIs in May. The only major league player in the past 18 seasons with numbers that high in one month was J.D. Martinez with the Arizona Diamondbacks in September of 2017 (.404/16/36).

But Bell became human in the four-game series with the Brewers, striking out seven times and managing four hits in 20 at-bats. His batting average fell from .345 to .332.

Clint Hurdle said fatigue may have been a factor for Bell, who’s started all 58 games. In the three he didn’t finish, he played to the eighth inning.

“Right now, there’s probably also some fatigue that we’ve talked about,” the Pirates manager said.

Hurdle wouldn’t commit to writing Bell’s name in the starting lineup for the next game Tuesday against the Atlanta Braves.

“We have a plan in place,” he said. “We’ll catch you all up on it Tuesday.”

Bell also is unsure: “But I guess I’ll find out Tuesday.”

Bell said he’s not tired and has no plans to ask for a day off.

“I would say I’m tired now. I just got a workout in,” he said, smiling at his joke. He was the last Pirates player to leave the clubhouse.

“No, legs feel good. I’m just trying to give it my all out there, for sure. I will never ask (for a day off) unless there’s something really bad going on. I haven’t asked this year.”

He did admit, “It becomes a grind when we’re not winning games. But I feel like when things are going well for the team it doesn’t matter how many games you play in a row. If you’re winning, then your legs feel fresh. If not, then it’s not the case.”

Hurdle said Bell was responsible for raising everyone’s expectations of him.

“He set the bar so high, so I want to let everybody know, we need to slow down here,” Hurdle said.

Hurdle said — and Bell concurred — that the first baseman might have been out in front of some pitches in the series.

“He’s shown the ability all through the month of May to hold his ground and get his swing off,” he said. “And today, this series, he’s chasing a little bit.”

Said Bell: “Timing-wise, maybe (I was off). I feel like I was chasing a little bit more than I normally have. A good little learning point and, hopefully, I can reset from it.”

He said he was 0 for 4 with similar issues against the Diamondbacks and Zack Greinke on April 25 and then came back to hit safely in 16 of the next 17 games.

Bell has become one of the game’s genuine stars. The attention and demands on his time have increased, but he said none of it has been a bother or a factor in his performance.

“It becomes a part of it when you’re playing well,” he said. “Hopefully, it lasts. I remember last year, and I remember the months of seemingly nothing.

“Hopefully, this is something that sticks.”