CLEVELAND, Ohio – Minnesota Twins bank coach Mike Bell, the younger brother of Cincinnati Reds coach David Bell and son of former Indian third baseman Buddy Bell, died of kidney cancer on Friday. He was 46 years old.
Indians coach Terry Francona, a long-time friend of the Bell family since his days playing with Buddy in Cincinnati, joined the rest of the baseball world in mourning after Cleveland’s on-air victory against Colorado.
“They are like a family,” said Francona, although visibly moved. “I can’t imagine what Buddy is going through. I feel like I lost half the game. There is no good way to put this. It just hurts. “
Francona said he spoke to Buddy Bell before Friday’s game, but said he had no words to describe the emotions that Mike Bell’s pass caused.
“I suffer a lot for them,” said Francona. “Just by listening to Buddy’s voice, I wish you could do something. You feel so helpless. “
The Twins entered the field on Friday in Fort Myers for the Grapefruit League game against Atlanta, at the request of the Bell family.
Mike Bell had surgery on January 28 to remove a tumor discovered earlier that month. He took a leave of absence from the team to focus on his health. Twins coach Rocco Baldelli said at the beginning of spring training that his top assistant on the bench was “very, very optimistic” about his recovery.
“We know Mike as a baseball man, but I can say that, with the love he has for the game and for all the people in the game, he was a family man first of all,” Baldelli said on Friday.
“He brought that passion to the field as our reserve coach. He was an incredible bank technician because he was incredible with people, ”he said.
In a statement released by the organization, the twins said Mike Bell had “an indelibly positive impact” on the team and everyone he met during his only season at work.
“Everyone who met Mike, on and off the field, is better off with the experience. The twins join the baseball world in mourning for Mike’s untimely death; our thoughts and best wishes are with his wife, Kelly, their three children, Luke, Mikayla and Madeline, and the entire Bell family during this difficult time. “
Bell was chosen in the 1997 expansion draft of the Arizona Diamondbacks and played a season in the majors in 2000 with the Reds. He appeared in 19 games and hit 6 in 27 with two home runs. He went on to work on player development and managed for minors for 13 seasons with the Diamondbacks.
David Bell has played 12 seasons in major championships, mostly in Philadelphia and Seattle, and was hired as manager of the Reds in 2019.
“Our Reds family is overwhelmed with sadness for the Bells as they mourn the loss of Mike,” said Cincinnati Executive Director Bob Castellini in a statement.
“This great baseball family has blessed thousands of people over the 70 years that they have dedicated themselves to our game. We are honored that Mike, as well as his grandfather Gus, his father Buddy and his brother David, wore a Reds uniform. Our hearts and support go to Buddy, David and their families, ”he said.
Buddy Bell has spent nine years as a coach and 18 seasons as a player in the major leagues. His grandfather, Gus Bell, played 15 years in the majors. Another brother, Ricky Bell, had a 10-year career in the secondary league.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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