While Altoona's Josh Bell looks as comfortable as can be at the plate behind a league-leading .343 batting average, the Pittsburgh Pirates' No. 3 prospect is admittedly having to re-learn the game at his new position.

Having played outfield his entire career, the 6-foot-3, 2011 second-round pick was tasked with learning the intricacies of first base when he was sent to the Arizona Fall League after last season. Now playing the position on a full-time basis, Bell is feeling more and more comfortable each game.

"I feel tons better than I did in the fall league, tons better than I did in Spring Training," said Bell, who had only previously played the position on occasion at the age of 12. "It's slowly but surely getting there. I want to be one of those players that the pitchers trust over there and people enjoy playing around. Infield and outfield are two completely different positions. So it's re-learning the game, re-learning where I need to be. I'm trying to be on my toes for every pitch that's thrown."

Through 41 games with the Curve this year, he has posted a .984 fielding percentage while being charged with just seven errors. He is still adjusting to the quicker reaction times, the different spins and directions that a ball can take and the range needed at first base, but feels that each pitch is an opportunity to improve.

Bell is also quick to credit sure-handed Curve shortstop Gift Ngoepe for providing him with needed knowledge about infield play.

"I try to take what I can from Gift," said Bell on how his teammate has helped him adjust. "He's taught me a lot with footwork and how the glove works toward the ball, and I try to really apply that. The ball just gets on you like that. You've got to be quick on your toes, got to be balanced in a ready position as the pitch crosses the plate. It's just reading that ball off the bat and getting that first good step in before I move the glove toward the ball."

In the interim, his hitting hasn't suffered a bit thanks to a far more patient approach.

"I like working counts," said Bell, who has walked 23 times and struck out only 16 times in 205 plate appearances. "I like drawing walks when I can. Right now it's working out for me and hopefully I can keep going with it."

His stature screams slugger, but his composure has led to only one home run thus far, and that doesn't bother Bell, who has come to realize that he was pushed too hard for the long ball early in his career. The results have allowed him to collect 60 hits, tied for the league lead, while smacking seven doubles and a career-high five triples.

"A couple of more feet and it's a home run, but I'll take a triple as well," Bell joked. "As I get older I know that they're just going to come. In my younger years I tried to press and hit home runs -- that's where the swings and misses come. As I pick my swings more maturely, I feel that I can pick my spots."

Bell's maturity, continued growth in the game and versatility on both sides of the ball will only help him find more spots up the Pirates ladder.

In brief

Gliding back up: Since their record-setting 15-game losing streak, the Richmond Flying Squirrels have gone 19-8, pulling to just three games under .500. Since their early stretch of futility, Richmond has rattled off two six-game winning streaks, outscoring opponents 37-10 in their most recent run, which was snapped last Friday. After a 3-14 April, the Flying Squirrels went 19-11 in May.

Thunder clap: Trenton's Eric Jagielo and Aaron Judge both clubbed five home runs apiece in May. Jagielo, the Yankees' No. 8 prospect, drove in 18, collected nine doubles and hit .284 in the month. Judge, New York's No. 2 prospect, drove in 22, scored 17, hit 10 doubles and had a .297/.373/.523 slash line. Combined, the duo drove in 28 percent of Thunder runs in May.

Plucky 'Duck: Ryan Merritt, Cleveland's No. 20 prospect, has hit five batters, second most in the league, but has only allowed seven walks in his 56 innings of work. The Akron RubberDucks lefty has gone five or more innings in each of his five starts. Merritt has held left-handed batters to a .238 average and has not walked any.

Barking loudly: Portland Sea Dogs reliever Pat Light was dominant in May, going 1-1 with three saves, a 0.63 ERA and 0.97 WHIP. A 2012 supplemental-first round Draft pick by the Red Sox, he held opponents to a miniscule .106 batting average, allowing just five singles over 19 innings.