Former MLB journeyman dies at age 61

Mike Brumley, a former major league player and coach, died in a car accident on Saturday, as reported by MLB.com’s Mark Bowman. Brumley was 61 years old.

Brumley, a second-round pick in the 1983 draft by the Red Sox, appeared in 295 major league games across portions of eight seasons from 1987 to 1995. The early years of his professional career were highlighted by his participation in two deals involving future Hall of Famers: the Red Sox sold Brumley and Dennis Eckersley to the Cubs for Bill Buckner in May 1984, and Brumley made his MLB debut in a Chicago uniform in 1987. In February 1988, the Cubs traded Brumley and Keith Moreland to the Padres in exchange for Goose Gossage and Ray Hayward from Chicago.

Overall, Brumley was traded four times during his journeyman career. He appeared for six different big league teams, and his 92 games with the Tigers in 1989 were the most he played in a season. Aside from the Cubs and Tigers, Brumley has also played for the Mariners, Red Sox, Astros, and Athletics. He also played for four other teams (the Padres, Orioles, Angels, and Marlins), but never appeared in a major – game with any of them. He hit.206/.261/.272 in 697 plate appearances, largely at shortstop but also at second base, third base, and all three outfield positions.

After his playing career ended, Brumley pursued a long coaching career, including spells as a minor league manager with Angels and Dodgers organizations, as well as roving instructor for the Dodgers and field coordinator for the Rangers. Brumley worked in the big league dugout for two of his former teams: the Mariners as a third and first coach from 2010 to 2013, and the Cubs as an assistant hitting coach in 2014.

Brumley went on to work as a minor league hitting coordinator with the Braves in 2021, where he formed long-lasting ties with various members of the club. Austin Riley spoke extensively about his bond with Brumley on Sunday, ranking him second only to Riley’s father as one of his greatest “role models in my baseball career.”

MLB Trade Rumors extends our sympathies to Brumley’s family, friends, and colleagues.