With a four-hit night, Josh Bell makes instant impact in Miami Marlins debut

Just 24 hours ago, the Miami Marlins acquired two key additions for their offense in Josh Bell and Jake Burger, a pair of sluggers who added needed length to the lineup.

The duo made quite an impact in their first showing, providing an instant and constant spark in Miami’s 9-8, 12-inning, walk-off win over the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday at loanDepot park.

While the two combined to go 6 for 9 with two RBI and three runs scored, it was Bell in particular who stood out in his first Marlins game.

He launched a solo home run in the sixth inning for his first of four hits to ignite the offense, which rallied from down five runs for its seventh walk-off victory, 28th comeback win and 24th one-run win.

Bell became the 19th player in the team’s history to hit a home run in his Marlins debut — last done by Jerar Encarnacion on June 19, 2022 at Citi Field against the New York Mets and last done at home by Nick Fortes on Sept. 18, 2021, against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

“Definitely pleased with the at-bats,” Bell said after the game. “Some balls went my way. Maybe it was that change in threads [and] change in scenery. Balls are certainly falling for me. The atmosphere in the clubhouse right now, especially after the last two games. We needed this one and we need to come out tomorrow and get the W as well.”

Bell went 4 for 5 overall, also hitting singles in the eighth, ninth and 11th innings — the last of which tied the game at 8-8 to set up Jesus Sanchez’s walk-off single an inning later.

He is just the fifth player in Marlins history to have four hits in his team debut and the first to do so as a mid-season acquisition.

Quite a way to make a statement.

Just seven-and-a-half months after the Cleveland Guardians signed Bell to a $16.5 million contract with a player option for the 2024 season, Bell was traded from Cleveland to Miami on Tuesday. The Guardians received infielder prospect Kahlil Watson and third baseman Jean Segura (who they promptly released) from the Marlins in exchange for Bell.

Prior to being traded at the trade deadline on Tuesday, he hit just .233 with the Guardians in 97 games while collecting 48 RBI and 11 home runs.

Bell said that since being traded, he has only slept for a little under an hour, but that it was more than enough to get him going in his debut.

“It’s definitely been a long day,” Bell said. “I had a 4:40 wake up call this morning and headed off to the airport. Was able to sleep a little bit on the flight and then I got here, got activated, got in the cage, got some work in and took BP. I was able to nap just before the game. Probably got like a 40 minute nap in and that made the difference.”

The Marlins also acquired Burger from the Chicago White Sox to add more depth to the lineup.

Burger said after the game that Bell’s home run in the sixth inning got the team going.

“That was awesome to see,” said Burger, who had two hits, a walk, a hit by pitch and a run scored in his Miami debut. “And, you know, got me amped up. The entire day. I was going crazy. So, it was a big spark for us and I think that ultimately led to the comeback.”

Bell’s work ethic and passion was lauded by Marlins manager Skip Schumaker, who noted that Bell arrived at the stadium at noon on Wednesday and went straight to the gym to get his body ready for the game that night.

“All I’ve heard is great things,” Schumacher said. “It’s a small fraternity, this baseball thing, and we talked to managers and coaches and ex teammates that have played with these guys or coached these guys and everything is 10 out of 10; makeup, character, work ethic, and I saw it five minutes in. So it’s no surprise when you see production out of players when they don’t just walk in and take at-bats, go to the outfield, go take BP. He was ready to play at noon after a flight [and] after getting traded.”