Former MLB player and coach Mike Brumley tragically passed away in a car accident on Saturday, as reported by MLB.com’s Mark Bowman. Brumley was 61 years old.
Drafted by the Red Sox in the second round of the 1983 draft, Brumley played in 295 MLB games over parts of eight seasons from 1987 to 1995. His early professional career featured trades involving future Hall of Famers – the Red Sox traded him and Dennis Eckersley to the Cubs for Bill Buckner in May 1984, leading to Brumley’s MLB debut with the Cubs in 1987. Later, in February 1988, the Cubs traded Brumley and Keith Moreland to the Padres for Goose Gossage and Ray Hayward.
Throughout his journeyman career, Brumley was traded four times and played for six MLB teams. His most active season was with the Tigers in 1989, where he appeared in 92 games. Besides the Cubs and Tigers, he also played for the Mariners, Red Sox, Astros, and Athletics. Additionally, he was part of the Padres, Orioles, Angels, and Marlins organizations but never played an MLB game for these teams. Over his career, he batted .206/.261/.272 in 697 plate appearances, primarily playing shortstop but also covering second base, third base, and all three outfield positions.
After retiring from playing, Brumley had a lengthy coaching career. He managed minor league teams for the Angels and Dodgers affiliates, served as a roving instructor for the Dodgers, and was a field coordinator for the Rangers. He also coached in the major leagues for two of his former teams – as a third and first base coach for the Mariners from 2010 to 2013, and as an assistant hitting coach for the Cubs in 2014.
In 2021, Brumley became a minor league hitting coordinator with the Braves, forming lasting relationships with many in the Atlanta organization. On Sunday, Austin Riley spoke extensively about his friendship with Brumley, describing him as one of the most influential figures in his baseball career, second only to his father.
