Trevor Bell makes debut

Angels prospect Trevor Bell made his major league debut today against Tampa Bay. Bell started the game lasting 5.1 innings giving up four runs on nine hits including a pair of home runs by Carlos Pena. Bell struck out four and walked just one batter.

He threw 75 pitches in the outing, flashing his entire repertoire of fastballs, cutters, change-ups and curveballs (MLB Gameday incorrectly classified his hard breaking curve as a slider).

He threw 29 fastballs averaging 93.2 miles per hour and topping out just over 95. He also threw 23 cutters (average speed of 91 mph), 19 curveballs, and just four change-ups. His change averaged nearly 85 mph which is not a great change in velocity from his fastball. Below is his his pitch movement courtesy of Brooks Baseball.

Bell is 22 years old and was the 37th overall pick in the 2005 draft. He was actually demoted at one point last season, from Advanced-A to Low-A but has bounced back nicely this season. He began the year in Double-A posting a 2,87 FIP in 11 starts. After being promoted to Triple-A he continued to have success with a 3.76 FIP.

Bell has never been a strikeout pitcher. His career strikeouts per nine innings in his five minor league seasons is 6.45. However, he has done a decent job of inducing grounders with a lifetime groundball rate of 50.2 percent.

Bell does not project as a top of the rotation guy but he could still develop into a solid three or four starter down the line. In order for him to be successful at this level he must improve upon his 2.79 strikeout to walk ratio.