Mike Bell (third baseman)

{{Short description|American baseball player and coach (1974–2021)}}

{{Infobox baseball biography

|name = Mike Bell

|image = Mike Bell Twins.jpg

|position = Third baseman

|team =

|number =

|birth_date = {{Birth date|1974|12|7}}

|birth_place = Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.

|death_date = {{death date and age|2021|03|26|1974|12|7}}

|death_place = Chandler, Arizona, U.S.

|bats = Right

|throws = Right

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate = July 20

|debutyear = 2000

|debutteam = Cincinnati Reds

|finalleague = MLB

|finaldate = October 1

|finalyear = 2000

|finalteam = Cincinnati Reds

|statleague = MLB

|stat1label = Batting average

|stat1value = .222

|stat2label = Home runs

|stat2value = 2

|stat3label = Runs batted in

|stat3value = 4

|teams =

;As player

Cincinnati Reds ({{mlby|2000}})

;As coach

Minnesota Twins ({{mlby|2020}})

}}

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

Bell attended Moeller High School in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Texas Rangers selected Bell in the first round of the 1993 Major League Baseball draft.{{cite web | last=Goldsmith | first=Charlie | title=Mike Bell, Cincinnati native and former Red, dies at 46 | website=Cincinnati.com | date=March 26, 2021 | url=https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/mlb/reds/2021/03/26/former-cincinnati-red-mike-bell-dies-46/7019108002/ | access-date=March 27, 2021}} He played in Minor League Baseball from 1993 to 2005.{{cite web | title=Mike Bell dies at age 46 | website=MLB.com | date=March 26, 2021 | url=https://www.mlb.com/news/mike-bell-twins-bench-coach-dies-at-age-46 | access-date=March 27, 2021}} 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.

In 2007, Bell was named the manager of the Yakima Bears, a minor league affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks.{{cite web | title=Yakima taps Bell as manager | website=MiLB.com | date=March 26, 2021 | url=https://www.milb.com/news/gcs-146114 | access-date=March 27, 2021}} 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.{{cite web|url=https://sny.tv/articles/get-to-know-mets-managerial-candidate-mike-bell|title=Get to know Mets managerial candidate Mike Bell|first=Alex|last=Smith|work=SNY|date=October 9, 2019|accessdate=March 26, 2021}}

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.{{cite web | title=Mike Bell hired as Twins' bench coach | website=MLB.com | date=December 17, 2019 | url=https://www.mlb.com/news/mike-bell-hired-as-twins-bench-coach | access-date=March 27, 2021}}

Personal life

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.

Bell fell ill in July 2020, and an examination in January 2021 discovered tumors on his kidneys.{{Cite web |title=D-backs GM: Death of Mike Bell 'devastating' for family, baseball |last=Zimmerman |first=Kevin |work=Arizona Sports |date=March 31, 2021 |access-date=April 2, 2021 |url= https://arizonasports.com/story/2601061/d-backs-gm-death-of-mike-bell-devastating-for-family-baseball/}} He underwent a procedure on January 28, and went on indefinite leave from the Twins, working remotely from his Phoenix, Arizona home.{{cite web |title=Minnesota Twins bench coach Mike Bell battling kidney cancer |url=https://sportsnaut.com/minnesota-twins-bench-coach-mike-bell-battling-kidney-cancer/ |website=sportsnaut.com |access-date=March 27, 2021 |date=February 18, 2021}} Bell died on March 26, 2021, less than two months after his diagnosis.{{cite web |last1=Miller |first1=Phil |title=Twins bench coach Mike Bell dies of cancer at age 46 |url=https://www.startribune.com/twins-bench-coach-mike-bell-dies-of-cancer-at-age-46/600039090/ |website=Star Tribune |access-date=March 26, 2021}}