PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) - Pirates All-Star and Home Run Derby participant Josh Bell sat down with Andrew Fillipponi to discuss tonight's Home Run Derby.
Bell is the three seed in the Home Run Derby and he will go up against the six seed, Ronald Acuna Jr. in the first round.
When asked about the approach for the Derby Bell talked about how it's a little different than preparing for an actual game.
"I think that I'm gonna get bigger with my leg kick," said Bell.
For Bell, this isn't his first home run derby. He's been in some of these competitions before he made it to the Major Leagues.
"Florida State League I got dominated by Adam Brett Walker, he was hitting balls clear out of the stadium. In high school I made it to the finals but ran out of gas at the end so my dad told me to not take too many swings and to save it for the Derby," said Bell.
Bell's pitcher of choice for the Derby is his friend and former teammate Jon Schwind, who had a feeling that Bell would be in this competition back in the spring of this year.
"He talked about it in the spring, he called it. He has a foresight as well. He's my best friend it's something for us to talk about for years to come."
Growing up Bell was a big fan of the home run derby and watching guys put on shows.
"You always see the Ken Griffey highlights, I watched Josh Hamilton hit 20 minutes of homers," said Bell.
His former teammate Andrew McCutchen reached out to him to give him advice for the Derby, he told him to swing 70% because he tried to swing too hard in the derby and did not come out successful.
If Bell wins the Home Run Derby he immediately knows who he is going to dedicate the win to.
"First and foremost my dad, I've probably had a hundred Home Run Derby's with him in my backyard. I have neighbors that still throw and bring wiffle balls that I hit into their backyards saying oh yeah I found this in my bush, it's been ten years since you hit, here you go. My dad laid the foundation so hopefully it all comes to fruition"
Listen to the whole interview with Josh Bell down below.
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