Pirates call up Bell, send down Glasgow in prospect shuffle

PITTSBURGH (AP) The Pittsburgh Pirates brought up a highly touted prospect for the second straight day Friday by recalling first baseman Josh Bell from Class AAA Indianapolis.

The switch-hitting 23-year-old reached the major leagues for the first time. Manager Clint Hurdle said Bell will be used off the bench during a three-game series against the NL Central-leading Chicago Cubs that begins Friday night, then return to Indianapolis.

Right-hander Tyler Glasnow was optioned to Indianapolis a day after making his debut against at St. Louis. He allowed four runs, three earned, in 5 1/3 innings while taking the loss.

Bell was hitting .324 with 13 home runs and 53 RBIs in 83 games, leading the International League in hits (101), extra-base hits (36), total bases (167) and slugging percentage (.535)

''It's the next step for me and I'm really excited,'' Bell said. ''I'm looking forward to the experience and going to try to make the most out of it.''

The Pirates selected Bell with the first pick of the second round of the 2011 amateur draft from Dallas Jesuit College Prep. During his senior season, Bell wrote to all 30 major league teams and asked them not to draft him because he planned to honor his commitment to play at the University of Texas.

However, the Pirates persuades him to pass up the scholarship by giving him a $5 million signing bonus, the largest for a player chosen after the first round.