Josh Bell '11 secured another career milestone on June 30 as a stellar opening half to the 2019 campaign earned the former Ranger slugger and Gatorade Texas Player of the Year an invitation to the 2019 Major League Baseball All-Star Game. Bell will represent the Pittsburgh Pirates and the National League on July 9 at Progressive Field in Cleveland, Ohio and will also compete in the 2019 T-Mobile Home Run Derby on July 8.
 
Throughout the voting period, Bell was locked into a highly competitive race with Atlanta Braves' first baseman Freddie Freeman for the right to start at first base for the National League. Freeman edged Bell by 1.1 percent in the fan-powered vote, but Bell was named to the all-star roster by the National League coaching staff. Bell is listed as a reserve on the official National League roster and joins Nate Alonso of the New York Mets to complete the first base depth chart.
 
Bell is the lone Pittsburgh representative on the National League roster and is just the fifth Pirate to be named an all-star over the past five years. In addition, Bell becomes the first Jesuit Dallas baseball alumni to earn a spot in the MLB All-Star Game and is the second former Ranger this decade to partake in his league's annual showcase, joining the company of 2019 Jesuit Dallas Hall of Fame inductee Kenny Cooper '03, a 2008 Major League Soccer (MLS) All-Star.
 
Despite not earning the starting role at first base, Bell is in contention to start in the All-Star Game as the National League will need to start a designated hitter to conform with the American League rules enforced by this year's all-star host, the Cleveland Indians. Bell will enter All-Star Weekend as one of the top hitters in the National League as the slugger currently leads the National League with 29 doubles while ranking in the top 10 with 94 hits, 22 home runs, and a .625 slugging percentage.
 
Bell's inclusion into the home run derby created immediate buzz as his penchant for the long ball has been widely lauded during the 2019 campaign. Currently leading the majors with five home runs of more than 450 feet, Bell will join a lineup which includes reigning National League MVP Christian Yelich (Milwaukee Brewers), Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (Toronto Blue Jays), Pete Alonso (New York Mets), Carlos Santana (Cleveland Indians).
 
The 2019 T-Mobile Home Run Derby will begin at 7 p.m. CST on Monday, July 8 and will be broadcast live on ESPN. On July 9, the All-Star Game will begin at 6:30 p.m. CST, and will be nationally televised on FOX.