The Minnesota Twins had a quiet offseason for the most part, but they did make a few moves. Among those moves was their signing of Josh Bell, a former All-Star. The first baseman has endured up and down seasons in recent years, but there is reason to believe he could have a big 2026 campaign with the Twins.

Bell, 33, will likely hit right in the middle of the Twins batting order. He could end up in the No. 3 or No. 4 spot in the lineup. As a result, he should have a respectable amount of RBI opportunities.

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Bell’s presence in the lineup could lead to better pitches for superstar Byron Buxton to hit as well. With Buxton getting on base, Bell should have a number of at-bats with runners in scoring position.

Bell has been on teams where he has been the star, while on other ball clubs he’s hit lower in the order. With Minnesota, Bell will be one of the most important players in the lineup.

Overall, Bell had an inconsistent 2025 season. He slashed .237/.325/.417 across 140 games played with the Washington Nationals. The slugger added 22 home runs.

The underlying numbers leave room for optimism. Bell ranked in the 75th percentile for barrel percentage and 73rd percentile for hard-hit percentage. He was also in the 79th percentile for strikeout percentage.

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Bell’s 4.1 percent home run rate was his highest mark since 2021 and his 90.4 average exit velocity was his best mark since 2021.

Josh Bell had the best season of his MLB career in 2019, as he crushed 37 home runs and recorded a .936 OPS that year. 2019 also represents his only All-Star year so far. While Bell may not reach those numbers again, he is still capable of making a significant impact in any lineup. He will especially benefit the Twins, as Minnesota’s lineup has plenty of uncertainty.

If the Twins compete in 2026, Bell will likely play a big role in their success. If the ball club struggles, however, they can consider moving Bell ahead of the trade deadline. Either way, the decision to sign him this offseason has serious potential to prove to be a quality move.

Josh Bell will look to play well in his first season with the Twins in Minnesota.