Brett Wallace vs Josh Bell
by Dewey Finn on Dec 10, 2025 1:41 PM EST
32 comments
Who do you believe is the better 3B prospect?
Brett Wallace (born 1986): .293/.367/.455/.822, 116 K, 47 BB (AA/AAA)
Joshua Bell (born 1986): .295/.376/.516/.892, 98 K, 61 BB (AA/AAA)
I guess the obvious question is whether both of these kids will actually be 3B in the majors. For now, Wallace is still a 3B in the Athletics organization and Bell has been getting good reviews on the improvements he has made defensively. Offensively, Wallace and Bell appear very similar. Bell is technically a switch-hitter, although he struggles mightily against lefties. Unless he gets better, he might have to give up switch-hitting. Wallace was probably the best pure hitter coming out of the 2008 Draft and really hasn't disappointed since. The bat was never really questioned, just the defense.
Personally, I prefer Josh Bell right now. I think he has a higher power potential, and otherwise similar and perhaps better K & BB rates than Brett Wallace. Factor in defense, and I think Bell definitely gets the edge.
What are your thoughts? Who do you like more?
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i still say give me chisenhall.
Matt dominguez is also someone i hold in just as high esteem.
human beings, who are almost unique in their ability to learn from the experiences of others, are also remarkable for their apparent disinclination to do so.
by variablesdont on Dec 10, 2025 1:58 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
definitely good 3B prospects
However, I was hoping to get some opinions on Wallace and Bell. Who do you prefer of the two?
by Dewey Finn on Dec 10, 2025 2:12 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
going by what i know
Josh bell is the more impressive of the 2. He’s got the tools to be a plus defender at 3b, plus the bat to be tops at his position.
I think bell, chisenhall, and dominguez are 1, 2, and 3 at the position right now, as far as prospects are concerned, with wallace and probably a few others right behind them.
None are in longoria’s or gordon’s class, though.
human beings, who are almost unique in their ability to learn from the experiences of others, are also remarkable for their apparent disinclination to do so.
by variablesdont on Dec 10, 2025 2:24 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
No...
top three at the position are Alvarez, Bell, and maybe a tie between Dominguez and Chisenhall who I didn’t like much before but am warming up to. I assume you think Alvarez won’t stick at third which I believe he will after Huntington just praised how hard he has been working to lose weight so he could stay at third.
by joegonzo on Dec 10, 2025 6:36 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Bell's defense
I watched Bell closely on defense at the AFL (saw him play 3B five times in seven days) and he really impressed me.
Initially I was looking for reasons why he may not be able to stick at third. By the end of the week, I was looking for reasons why he may not be an above-average defensive 3B. He didn’t give me any.
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by Adam Foster on Dec 10, 2025 2:15 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Callis on both
James (Chicago)
Brett Wallace or Josh Bell? Wallace seems to get all the hype but Bell has had better power and plate discipline through the minors. Bell seems underrated.
Jim Callis
(2:42 PM)
I’d still take Wallace, but Bell is somewhat overrated.
by Asfan4ever723 on Dec 10, 2025 2:38 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
He meant underrated
Mr. SKIA (MrSportsKnowItAll.com)
Jim, in last week’s chat, a questioner asked for your preference of Wallace vs. Bell, and said that he thought Bell was underrated. You said, “Wallace, but Bell is overrated.” I think this was a typo, but it created a stir and even had people asking KLaw about it in his chat. You did mean ‘underrated’ right?
Jim Callis
(2:37 PM)
Did I do that? I meant Bell is underrated. My mistake. Didn’t realize I could so easily cause some furor.
by cowboy4eva on Dec 10, 2025 3:51 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
The answer for me is Bell
b/c I have absolutely no respect for Wallace’s ability to play 3B.
I would definitely take Chisenhall above both, but I am confidence in Wallace’s bat. When he eventually moves to 1B, is Wallace much different from Logan Morrison, for instance? Obviously not a perfect comp, but you get the idea. Guy who will hit for high AVG, walk a good amount, very good approach at the plate, but somewhat questionable power.
On Chisenhall over Bell - Bell is solid all around, but not really an impact bat for me. He was underrated previously - and it seems like everyone just realized he’s a pretty good prospect. He should not be confused with an elite prospect. He’s good but its almost as if he’s getting overrated now. I think Chisenhall will have him beat skills and tools across the board, other than perhaps patience… which while not elite, I wouldnt rank as a problem at all for Chisenhall. Its just a particular strength for Bell.
by alskor on Dec 10, 2025 2:39 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Bob Geren agrees with you
Though I bet Beane types up a script for him to memorize before every interview
He expects Wallace to move to 1b eventually.
So how would you handle a 1b logjam eventually with Wallace, Barton, Doolittle, Fox, Carter, etc. All have interesting bats, but defensive issues
Would you trade or move around anyone else to other positions?
by Asfan4ever723 on Dec 10, 2025 2:55 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
If Bob Geren agreed with an opinion of mine, I'd seriously consider changing my opinion.
by thejd44 on Dec 10, 2025 3:08 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, If Im writing a book Im probably not asking him for quotes to put on the jacket.
Do you disagree with my take, though? I do find the situation somewhat puzzling…
by alskor on Dec 10, 2025 3:18 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I'm not sure
I hear so many mixed things on Wallace’s defense that I have no idea what to think of him. I don’t really question his power though. I was excited the A’s got Wallace, but I’m much more excited about Carter and and Barton in 2010 (I want to see Carter destroy the PCL, and I still believe Barton will be an above average 1B).
And, to be honest, I don’t know enough about all the other guys to weigh in on some sort of ranking.
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by thejd44 on Dec 11, 2025 1:05 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I hear so many mixed things on Wallace’s defense
Where have you heard good things about Wallace’s defense…?
by alskor on Dec 11, 2025 1:15 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Well, you can always play Wallace some at 3B and live with bad defense. He’s not a butcher - he’s surehanded and has a nice arm. He just has no range at all. So, for a year or two you can leave him there and live with it, using a late innings defensive replacement. I don’t think I buy it, though. Oakland values defense too highly for that. Still, they have been starving for offense, so its certainly possible they go that route… Im not confident enough in Wallace the rookie’s bat to live with subpar defense over there, though.
I was under the impression Doolittle can probably play LF. I also still think Carter can handle the OF - and it might even be a better fit for him than 1B.
Thing is, take Wallace out of the equation and there is still a big logjam, so its not like playing Wallace at 3B solves all the problems anyway. As you note, there are at least five guys who could help the major league team whose best position is probably 1B/DH.
Fox, I don’t see as much of an asset or really in their plans. He’s a platoon/super sub they can use in a few spots and live with what he brings. Maybe his primary job description is backup catcher, too.
Logjams often work themselves out until spring - which isnt fun for fans, but often makes the most sense. I would think they probably start the year with Barton and Fox in the majors and the other guys in the minors. Then again I never expected them to break camp with those kids last year, either. We’ll see who gets hurt, moved, etc… Fox, Barton and Doolittle don’t have a lot of trade value, but if Beane was motivated to move them its not like he would have a hard time doing it and getting something useful back. Long term, I think its Wallace and Carter at 1B/DH and Doolittle in the OF/bench. Alternatively, I would prefer Wallace at DH, Carter in the OF, Doolittle off the bench and pick up somebody for 1B (not like its hard). Brian Cashman had a great quote about DH’s - applies almost equally to 1B:
“You can turn left, you can turn right, you can look up and down and you’ve got a DH begging for a job,” Cashman said. “The DH market, you’ve got opportunity there. You should be able to take advantage of that if you’re a club.”
So, really, Wallace and Carter are the only guys I need to worry about in terms of long term plans. Everybody else is fungible. That’s not to say they’re worthless, but if they get stuck in a bad spot with lack of ABs I just live with it.
by alskor on Dec 10, 2025 3:17 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Sean Doolittle is an outfielder
Forget the fact that he once played first base. The odds of him ever playing 30 games in a season at 1B for the Athletics are essentially nil. Just forget about it.
Barton’s actually in position to have a breakout year next year IMO. Without much fanfare, he put up a .343 wOBA last year in limited time. He’s not even 25 yet— the guy isn’t chopped liver.
O'Hara: Detective Lassiter is literally on fire.
Spencer: What kind of fire are we talking about-- "Michael Jackson in the Pepsi commercial" fire, or "misusing the word literally" fire?
by PaulThomas on Dec 10, 2025 9:40 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I agree completely.
His rate stats are so excellent, I would be very surprised if he doesn’t put up quite good counting stats next year.
"Life is a horizontal fall" -Jean Cocteau
by King Richard on Dec 11, 2025 3:57 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Video of Wallace on D
Here’s a video that I shot of Wallace taking grounders before a Triple-A game: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AomsDHb7WPo
He does have limited range but he’s pretty agile, has soft hands and his arm is good. A NL front office member told me he thinks Wallace could be an adequate defensive third baseman.
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by Adam Foster on Dec 10, 2025 4:26 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
i don't see it
with that body. . .i don’t like the short arm flip throwing action either, I don’t know if he has great arm strength or not, but he throws like a 2b. . . he should probably mix in a little slim fast
by SoCalSoxFan on Dec 11, 2025 5:53 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
“The answer for me is Bell b/c I have absolutely no respect for Wallace’s ability to play 3B.”
I’m on that train.
by PhillyFriar on Dec 10, 2025 4:25 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
i like brett wallace level swing and bat speed
by Asfan4ever723 on Dec 10, 2025 4:48 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
That was a pretty cocky bat toss, though. I’ve known him to be more humble than that :).
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by Adam Foster on Dec 10, 2025 5:50 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I love his swing, too.
Beauteous.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hIsF4cQOwc&feature=player_embedded
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by Frederick0220 on Dec 10, 2025 7:38 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Josh Bell spent the entire season in AA
The OP mistakenly says that he split between AA/AAA.
by NRC on Dec 10, 2025 5:53 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Bell
Love the defense
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by ravensfan3 on Dec 11, 2025 12:42 AM EST via mobile reply actions 0 recs
I like Bell more, though my opinion is biased. But, I really do like Wallace and his swing. I think I am more confident in Wallace’s bat though Bell is right behind him in that regard, and Bell gets the nod as far as raw power, discipline and his glove at 3B(and ability to stay there).
I do agree with the notion that Bell had been underrated for a while now, but he did have a break out season this year. He also improved his defense tremendously which builds his value quite a bit. At the end of the 09 season, I was thinking he would be somewhere around the 75th best prospect, but I am starting to think he may wind up well in the top 50 andpossibly somewhere in the 30’s……What do you guys think?Switch hitting 3B with plus raw power, possible above average defender with good discipline and a good bat….Only possible problem is his right handed hitting splits which he did improve in the AFL though the competition there is uneven at times. I wonder if him hitting well against LHP in the AFL has anything to do with his recent helium. I honestly never heard him mentioned as much until he showed off in the AFL this season.
by QBsIllest1 on Dec 11, 2025 11:15 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
KG commenting
on Withrow and Mejia. For those that were following on that debate.
Rhys26 (Kansas City): A debate’s been raging on another site, as to who is the better prospect, Chris Withrow or Jenry Mejia? I say both may wind-up in the pen, if they don’t develop better secondary offerings. Care to weigh in?
Kevin Goldstein: I think you’re first comment there is VERY accurate. I like them both quite a bit — there’s no slam dunk obviously better one.
by MightyMoose on Dec 11, 2025 2:40 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Wallace, if he stays at 3B and shows some degree of competence there
Bell, in the more likely event he doesn’t.
by nivarsity on Dec 11, 2025 6:34 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Comparison
Both 23, Wallace older by a couple months
Bell drafted in 2005 out of HS- 4th full season
Wallace drafted out of college in 08- 1st full season
Bell spent all of his 09 season at AA level
Wallace had 620+ abs at AAA level
Comparable bats w/ Bell more power
Wallace defense seems to be the biggest issue against him.
by MagicMike23 on Dec 12, 2025 12:14 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
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