On Bell's timing, Avilán's surgery and Nats' vaccine goal

Josh Bell, maybe more than just about any big-name hitter in the majors, depends on proper timing at the plate to be successful. The big slugger doesn't have the short, compact swing of an Anthony Rendon. His is a long swing with long arms that, when in sync, produces explosive results but otherwise can produce a lot of whiffs.

When the Nationals first baseman departed West Palm Beach, Fla., on March 29, everything was in sync. He enjoyed a monster spring at the plate, hitting .383 (18-for-47) with five doubles, six homers, 15 RBIs and a 1.328 OPS.

Then Bell learned he was one of nine Nats players who were required to quarantine themselves either after testing positive for COVID-19 or coming into close contact with someone else who did. And after sitting out nearly two weeks before he was cleared to finally make his season debut one week ago, that timing was lost. With only two hits in 20 at-bats to begin the season, Bell is once again searching.

"What I see is his timing once again is a little off," manager Davey Martinez said during today's pregame Zoom session with reporters. "The balls that he was hitting in spring training, he's just fouling off. Once we get that timing figured out, I think you're going to see Josh hit the ball like he did in spring training. And he's close. He's real close."

Martinez points to Bell's strong eye at the plate as evidence of his ability to turn things around quickly. He's not expanding the zone and chasing pitches he can't hit. He's just missing the pitches that are over the plate.

"The one thing I like about him, he does work good at-bats," Martinez said. "He's a guy that, we've talked about before, he's not afraid. When he's going good, he knows that strike zone better than any one of our hitters. So he'll take his walks. We often talk to him a lot about that. When you don't feel like you're getting hits, don't push the envelope. You're going to get your hits. But take your walks. That's going to help you a lot."

* Luis Avilán, who learned Saturday he has a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his left elbow, has decided to undergo Tommy John surgery.

The 31-year-old reliever could've possibly attempted to rehab the tear and try to return to pitch but didn't want to take the chance. The surgery will end his season after only four appearances, and will present a major rehabilitation program to make it back in 2022.

"I wish him all the best," Martinez said. "I know he's going to go through the process, it's going to be months. But hopefully he can come back and pitch again."

A 10-year veteran with 458 career appearances for seven different clubs, Avilán made the Nationals roster out of spring training as a minor league invitee. He threw 14 pitches during a perfect season debut April 7 versus the Braves, then 17 pitches while giving up one run two days later to the Dodgers.

After that came a rough, two-game stretch where he was needed to provide more length after Stephen Strasburg and Patrick Corbin were knocked out early. Avilán threw 38 pitches during a tortured, six-run inning Tuesday in St. Louis, then came back two nights later and threw 39 pitches over two innings against the Diamondbacks. The day after, he noted elbow discomfort and an MRI revealed the ligament tear.

"He seemed upbeat about it," Martinez said. "He knows what he's up against, but he's going to do everything he can. He said he wants to try to come back and pitch again, and good for him. So hopefully the surgery goes well for him."

* Though the Nationals have not yet reached the 85 percent vaccination threshold required by Major League Baseball to ease COVID-19 restrictions, Martinez believes they will get there soon.

Most of the club's traveling party received the one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine last week in St. Louis, but not everyone did. Martinez said some opted to wait a bit before getting their shots, and other members of the organization who weren't on the road trip needed to find other avenues to get their shots.

Martinez, who said he received his second dose of another vaccine late last week, stressed he wants to reach the threshold as an organization and believes it can happen soon.

"At this point, we have not. But there are still guys that are going to get their vaccine," he said. "They were just waiting for some reason. But we still have some guys that are going to get it. I'll keep you updated. Keep your fingers crossed. I want to hit that 85 percent."