Mike Bell (third baseman)
| Mike Bell | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Third baseman | |
| Born: December 7, 1974 Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S. | |
| Died: March 26, 2021 (aged 46) Chandler, Arizona, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| July 20, 2000, for the Cincinnati Reds | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| October 1, 2000, for the Cincinnati Reds | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Batting average | .222 |
| Home runs | 2 |
| Runs batted in | 4 |
| Teams | |
| |
Michael John Bell (December 7, 1974 – March 26, 2021) was an American professional baseball third baseman and coach. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cincinnati Reds, and was the bench coach of the Minnesota Twins during the 2020 season. He was the brother of David Bell, son of Buddy Bell and grandson of Gus Bell.
Baseball career
[edit]Bell attended Moeller High School in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Texas Rangers selected Bell in the first round of the 1993 Major League Baseball draft.[1] He played in Minor League Baseball from 1993 to 2005.[2] In 2000, he played in Major League Baseball for the Cincinnati Reds. With the Reds, Bell batted .222 with two home runs and four runs batted in in 19 games.[3]
In 2007, Bell was named the manager of the Yakima Bears, a minor league affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks.[4] He managed the Visalia Rawhide in 2008 and 2009. Bell then served as the director of player development for the Diamondbacks from 2011 through 2016 and as vice president of player development from 2017 through 2019.[3][2]
On December 17, 2019, the Minnesota Twins named Bell to their coaching staff for the 2020 season, replacing Derek Shelton, who left to manage the Pittsburgh Pirates.[5]
Personal life
[edit]Bell and his wife, Kelly, had three children. His father, Buddy Bell, grandfather, Gus Bell, and brother, David Bell, all played in the major leagues.[1]
Bell fell ill in July 2020, and an examination in January 2021 discovered tumors on his kidneys.[6] He underwent a procedure on January 28, and went on indefinite leave from the Twins, working remotely from his Phoenix, Arizona home.[7] Bell died on March 26, 2021, less than two months after his diagnosis.[8]
See also
[edit]- Third-generation Major League Baseball families
- List of second-generation Major League Baseball players
- List of Major League Baseball players named in the Mitchell Report
References
[edit]- ^ a b Goldsmith, Charlie (March 26, 2021). "Mike Bell, Cincinnati native and former Red, dies at 46". Cincinnati.com. Retrieved March 27, 2021.
- ^ a b "Mike Bell dies at age 46". MLB.com. March 26, 2021. Retrieved March 27, 2021.
- ^ a b Smith, Alex (October 9, 2019). "Get to know Mets managerial candidate Mike Bell". SNY. Retrieved March 26, 2021.
- ^ "Yakima taps Bell as manager". MiLB.com. March 26, 2021. Retrieved March 27, 2021.
- ^ "Mike Bell hired as Twins' bench coach". MLB.com. December 17, 2019. Retrieved March 27, 2021.
- ^ Zimmerman, Kevin (March 31, 2021). "D-backs GM: Death of Mike Bell 'devastating' for family, baseball". Arizona Sports. Retrieved April 2, 2021.
- ^ "Minnesota Twins bench coach Mike Bell battling kidney cancer". sportsnaut.com. February 18, 2021. Retrieved March 27, 2021.
- ^ Miller, Phil. "Twins bench coach Mike Bell dies of cancer at age 46". Star Tribune. Retrieved March 26, 2021.
External links
[edit]- Career statistics from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball Reference (Minors), or Retrosheet
- 1974 births
- 2021 deaths
- Arizona Diamondbacks executives
- Baseball players from Cincinnati
- Binghamton Mets players
- Charleston RiverDogs players
- Charlotte Knights players
- Charlotte Rangers players
- Cincinnati Reds players
- Colorado Springs Sky Sox players
- Deaths from cancer in Arizona
- Deaths from kidney cancer in the United States
- Gulf Coast Rangers players
- Louisville RiverBats players
- Major League Baseball bench coaches
- Major League Baseball farm directors
- Major League Baseball third basemen
- Memphis Redbirds players
- Minnesota Twins coaches
- Minor league baseball coaches
- Minor league baseball managers
- Norfolk Tides players
- Oklahoma City 89ers players
- St. Lucie Mets players
- Salem Avalanche players
- Tucson Sidewinders players
- Tulsa Drillers players
- Moeller High School alumni