Former MLB journeyman dies at 61 years old

Former baseball player and coach Mike Brumley passed away in a car accident over the weekend, as first reported by MLB.com’s Mark Bowman. Brumley was 61 years old.

Selected as a second-round pick by the Red Sox in the 1983 draft, Brumley appeared in 295 games across eight seasons in the major leagues from 1987 to 1995. He began his professional career being traded in deals involving notable players, such as Dennis Eckersley and Bill Buckner. Brumley made his MLB debut with the Cubs in 1987 after being part of a trade with the Red Sox. He was later traded to the Padres in 1988, where Goose Gossage and Ray Hayward joined the Cubs.

Throughout his career, Brumley was traded four times, playing for a total of six teams in the major leagues. His most significant playing time came with the Tigers in 1989, where he played 92 games. Apart from the Cubs and Tigers, Brumley also had stints with the Mariners, Astros, and Athletics. Despite being a member of other organizations like the Padres, Orioles, Angels, and Marlins, he never played in a big league game for them. Brumley primarily played as a shortstop but also rotated through positions such as second baseman, third baseman, and all three outfield spots, maintaining a batting line of .206/.261/.272 in 697 plate appearances.

After retiring from playing, Brumley transitioned to coaching, serving as a minor league manager for Angels and Dodgers affiliates, a roving instructor for the Dodgers, and a field coordinator for the Rangers. He later returned to the big leagues as a coach for the Mariners and the Cubs, where he worked until the 2014 season.

In 2021, Brumley took on the role of a minor league hitting coordinator with the Braves, forming strong relationships with members of the organization. Austin Riley, in particular, spoke highly of Brumley, highlighting him as a significant influence in his baseball career after only his father. Our heartfelt condolences go out to Brumley’s family, friends, and the baseball community during this difficult time.