Orioles recalled 3B Josh Bell from Triple-A Norfolk.

He's in the lineup to play third base for the Orioles on Thursday against the Royals. The 23-year-old will get a chance to prove he is ready to be a major league regular, as the Orioles just shipped Miguel Tejada to the Padres. Bell is 5-for-19 (.263) with the O's in two stints earlier this season. He was ranked as the organization's No. 2 prospect by Baseball America over the winter and hit .278/.328/.481 in 344 plate appearances for Triple-A Norfolk. He's a must-add in all AL-only leagues but not yet a mixed league option.

Orioles optioned 3B Josh Bell to Triple-A Norfolk.

Bell was 2-for-4 on Sunday in his only game during his most recent stint with the team. The 23-year-old third baseman is 5-for-19 (.263) with the O's, overall. Hopefully he'll be up for good before long.

Orioles recalled 3B Josh Bell from Triple-A Norfolk.

Bell was just sent back to the minors on Saturday, but is able to return with the injury to Matt Wieters. The 23-year-old third baseman was 3-for-15 (.200) in his first taste of the bigs. Hopefully he gets to play more this time.

Orioles optioned 3B Josh Bell to Triple-A Norfolk.

The move was expected. Bell hit just .200 for the O's, struck out eight times in 15 at-bats and had started just one out of the last five games. The future is bright for this youngster, but he he'll have to wait to become a regular in the big leagues. Look for him to return in September, if not sooner.

Josh Bell is expected to be sent to Triple-A Norfolk to make room for Saturday's starter Chris Tillman.

Bell entered Friday's game with just 14 at-bats since being promoted from Triple-A Norfolk last week, so he's better off playing every day in the minor leagues. "We wish we could get him more at-bats with the way our club is, with so many guys that play so many different positions," said Samuel. "From what I'm seeing he's held his own. We knew he could play some defense. We just wish we could have gotten him some more at-bats. He's a young guy. And he's one of the prospects that this organization is counting on, and those guys have to play." He'll likely be up for good at some point later this summer.

Josh Bell (leg) expects to return to the O's lineup Tuesday.

Bell was lifted on Sunday with leg cramps and will sit out of Monday afternoon's series opener against the Tigers. He is an ugly 2-for-11 with six strikeouts since being promoted from Triple-A Norfolk last week.

Oriole's third baseman Josh Bell left the game on Sunday with leg cramps. He said he was fine after the game.

It remains to be seen if Bell sticks on the roster once Felix Pie returns on Tuesday. His two-for-eleven, six strikeout performance doesn't really inspire confidence, and Bell still has some issues to work on. He may yet go back down, despite being one of the best offensive prospects on a team going nowhere this year.

Josh Bell isn't a lock to be sent to the minor leagues when Felix Pie returns from the disabled list.

"I don't know actually what the situation is going to be," said Orioles interim manager Juan Samuel. "I think we're going to deal with that as we approach that day. I'm not sure." Orioles president Andy MacPhail suggested Thursday that Bell's first taste of the minor leagues could be rather short, but Bell still has a few days to make an impression. The 23-year-old is 2-for-8 over his first two games in the bigs. He was the designated hitter against the Red Sox on Friday.

Orioles recalled 3B Josh Bell from Triple-A Norfolk.

The O's haven't confirmed their plans for the 23-year-old switch-hitter, but he should take over third base duties from Miguel Tejada effective immediately. Bell, a fourth-round pick of the Dodgers in 2005, put together a .285/.355/.474 batting line over parts of six seasons in the minor leagues. There are high hopes for Bell in the long-term, but he's probably only worth a look in AL-only leagues and keeper formats for now.

According to Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun, Orioles prospect third baseman Josh Bell is in the clubhouse and could be called up before Thursday's game.

There's nothing official yet, but it would likely be the corresponding roster move with Luke Scott going on the disabled list. Bell, who was acquired from the Dodgers last July in the George Sherrill trade, is batting .266/.311/.455 with 10 homers and 44 RBI for Triple-A Norfolk this season. The 23-year-old third baseman was ranked as the organization's No. 2 prospect by Baseball America over the winter. If he is indeed promoted to the big leagues, it won't be to sit on the bench. Expect Miguel Tejada to either become a part-time player or be traded.

Triple-A Norfolk's Josh Bell struck out all four times he was up on Sunday.

In most cases, it's probably still too early to get worried about slow starts. Bell, though, has a 15/1 K/BB ratio to go along with his .179/.200/.256 line in 39 at-bats and he also failed to impress this spring. The Orioles expected better after his exceptional year in Double-A in 2009. However, there's still hope he'll make Miguel Tejada expendable come July.