It’s the final week of catching up with all the Bells in the Bigs and this week we venture to the southwest region of the country.
First, to the Arizona Diamondbacks. Hunter Haworth was a Bell for two seasons (2015/2016) from California State University Chico.
The right-handed pitcher tossed a two-season total of 51 innings over 28 games for a cumulative ERA of 4.24 and a 2-1 record.
His final season at Chico was 2017 and he was drafted in the 22nd round by the Boston Red Sox in that year’s MLB Draft.
He remained within the Red Sox organization until April 2021 when the single-A-long-season affiliate, Salem Red Sox released Haworth. 13 days later, the Diamondbacks signed him to a minor-league contract.
Haworth began the 2021 season with the high-A affiliate Hillsboro Hops before he found his footing with the single-A-long-season affiliate Visalia Rawhide. Haworth will start the 2022 season with the Rawhide.
Right-hander Grant Holman was a Bell in 2018 and tossed 25.2 innings in five games, all starts. He registered a 1.75 ERA and threw 24 strikeouts. He also took 71 at-bats and roped a .296 average over 21 games.
The dual-threat returned to the University of California where he pitched for three seasons. He remained a dual-threat in 2019 when he batted .272 and had an ERA of 4.82 as a freshman in 2019.
He honed his pitching skills during his sophomore and junior seasons and was selected in the sixth round of the 2021 MLB Draft by the Oakland Athletics.
He was assigned to the high-A affiliate Lansing Lugnuts on April 1 and has already appeared in two games.
Finally, former Bell Ryan Och was a Bell in 2018. The southpaw appeared in seven games and pitched 7.1 innings as a sophomore from the University of Southern Mississippi.
After his fourth season at Southern Mississippi, which could be considered his breakout year, Och was drafted by the San Diego Padres as the 220 overall pick in the seventh round of the 2021 draft.
As a “Covid-sophomore” in 2021, Och posted a 1.27 ERA, an 8-0 record and two saves in 35.1 innings over 21 games.
He began his minor league career with the single-A affiliate Lake Elsinore Storm where he threw 10 innings over seven appearances with a 2.70 ERA in 2021.
This season he is assigned to the high-A affiliate Fort Wayne Tin-Caps and has already thrown four innings.
We look forward to tracking all the past, present, and future Bells through the ranks of MLB systems and enjoyed updating you on all the Bells in the Bigs.