Mike Bell, a Cincinnati native and a former Reds third baseman, died of cancer on Friday at 46.
Bell was the Minnesota Twins bench coach and is the brother of Reds manager David Bell.
"Our Reds family is overwhelmed with sadness for the Bells as they mourn the loss of Mike,” said Reds owner Bob Castellini. “This great baseball family blessed thousands of people over the 70 years it has devoted to our game. We are honored that Mike, like his grandfather Gus, his father Buddy, and brother David, wore a Reds uniform. Our hearts and support go out to Buddy, David and their families.”
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On Friday, the Bell family asked the Reds, Twins and Diamondbacks to play their games. David Bell was also out of Reds camp on Friday.
Mike Bell was a first-round pick by the Texas Rangers in 1993 after graduating from Moeller High School. After his playing career, Bell spent 13 seasons working in the player development department of the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Bell was the Twins bench coach as Minnesota went 36-24 last season and won the AL Central.
Mike Bell is the son of Buddy Bell, the Reds' vice president, senior adviser to the president of baseball operations. Buddy Bell had an 18-year MLB career and played with the Reds for four seasons. Gus Bell played for the Reds from 1953-1961 and was inducted into the Reds Hall of Fame in 1964.
Over the last 70 years, the Bell family has been a staple across baseball in Cincinnati and across MLB.
“The Minnesota Twins are devastated by the loss of Mike Bell," the Twins said in a statement. "In his short time with our club, Mike had an indelibly positive impact – not only on the quality of our team on the field but most importantly upon everyone whom he met. Widely respected in our game, all who knew Mike, on and off the field, are better for the experience. The Twins join the baseball world in mourning Mike’s untimely passing; our thoughts and best wishes are with his wife, Kelly, his three children, Luke, Mikayla and Madeline, and the entire Bell family during this difficult time.”
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