Josh Bell in Line to End Absurd Pirates All-Star Drought

Major League Baseball released the first National League All-Star voting update on Tuesday, and the fans have done a nice job getting it right thus far.

That includes making the best of a crowded field at first base featuring Freddie Freeman, Anthony Rizzo and Paul Goldschmidt. Instead of those stalwarts leading the position, it's Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman Josh Bell, who definitely deserves it.

This is not just a fan movement. Bell has been incredible to start the 2019 season, as he's slashing .324/.388/.660 with 18 home runs and 58 RBI. You can make an argument for Freeman and Rizzo, but you can't go wrong with Bell.

If he ends up getting the starting job in the All-Star Game, Bell would become the first Pirates player to start at an infield position since Bobby Bonilla at third base in 1988. The last Pirates player to start at first base was back in...1956, with Dale Long.

Talk about a drought? Long's mostly known for homering in eight consecutive games, a record Don Mattingly later tied, so don't worry about him; he'll still be in the books, even if Bell gets the nod.

Over the last 20 years, the only All-Star starters the Pirates have had are outfielders Andrew McCutchen and Jason Bay, along with catcher Jason Kendall.

I think they are due for another, and it's hard to argue against Bell.