Former major league infielder, coach and instructor Mike Brumley was killed in a car crash on Saturday night. He was 61.
Brumley was killed in Mississippi, according to reports.
Brumley played for six teams from 1987-1995. He most recently served as a minor league coach and instructor for the Atlanta Braves from 2018-22.
Braves third baseman Austin Riley was awoken from his sleep Sunday morning with the news that one of the most influential people in his career had been killed.
“I got a text about 2:30 this morning and I have been up since,” Riley said after homering in Sunday’s 8-6 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays. “There are very few people that have been role models in my baseball career, my dad being No. 1 and Mike Brumley being No. 2.
“I feel for his family and his kids and everybody that he was close to. This is a tragic day. Prayers out to his family. It’s a tough pill to swallow.”
Riley said that he spoke to Brumley on a regular basis and worked on his swing with him just days ago when the Braves were in Baltimore.
The Seattle Mariners also paid tribute to Brumley, who played for the club in 1990 and was later a coach for four seasons (2010-13).
“We are saddened by the passing of former Mariners player and coach, Mike Brumley,” the team said on social media. “Our hearts go out to his family, friends and loved ones. Mike’s impact on the field, in our organization and across baseball, was felt by generations of players.”
Brumley was a second-round pick by the Boston Red Sox in 1983 and was part of a big trade before even reaching the majors. He was sent to the Chicago Cubs with relief ace Dennis Eckersley for first baseman Bill Buckner in May 1984.
Brumley made his major league debut with Chicago in 1987 and later played for the Detroit Tigers (1989), Mariners, Red Sox (1991-92), Houston Astros (1993, 1995) and Oakland Athletics (1994).
Brumley batted .206 with three homers and 38 RBIs in 295 major league games. He also was a coach for the Cubs in 2014 and had minor league instructor jobs with the Texas Rangers (2005-07) and Los Angeles Dodgers (2009).
Before being drafted, Brumley was the starting shortstop of Texas’ College World Series-winning team in 1983 that featured future big league pitchers Roger Clemens, Calvin Schiraldi and Bruce Ruffin.