In shocking and sad news, the Twins announced that bench coach Mike Bell has passed away at the age of 46. He had been suffering from kidney cancer.
Bell was one of many members in his family who enjoyed a long career in baseball. The grandson of former major league outfielder Gus Bell, the son of ex-third baseman and manager Buddy Bell, and the brother of former infielder and current Reds skipper David Bell, Mike Bell was the 30th overall pick of the Rangers in 1993. The ex-third baseman appeared in the majors in one season – 2000 – as a member of the Reds, his hometown team and one near and dear to his family’s heart.
After wrapping up his run as a professional player in 2005, Bell moved on to the minor and major league coaching ranks in 2007. He was also the director of player development with the Diamondbacks before becoming a prominent part of Twins manager Rocco Baldelli’s staff prior to last season. He garnered interest as a managerial candidate from the likes of the Mets, Orioles, Red Sox and Pirates over the past couple offseasons.
MLBTR sends our condolences to Bell’s family, the Twins organization and everyone affected by this tragic and sudden loss.
This is definitely shocking.
may he rest easy.
Damn that’s so young. Rip and condolences to his family.
Cancer sucks!! I am 3 years in recovery and I am always stressed about getting it again. So young too. RIP
Congrats on the recovery so far and may the beast stay the heck away from you!
great to read about your recovery. Best wishes for the future.
David, you have my best wishes for you to always be cancer free. I went from stage 4 esophageal and stage 1in my kidney. I am now 25 months cancer free. Healthy again!!
Congrats to you too! May the beast stay away from you as well!!!
Man he only had known he had it for almost 2 months, crazy
May he rest in peace : (
SAD RIP
RIP Mr. Bell.
RIP
Damn, cancer is a real b. RIP to him and hope his friends and family are doing okay.
Cancer sucks! Would not wish any form on even my worst enemy. Lost my wife almost 2 years ago to a rare cancer. After she got the diagnosis, consulted with several surgeons and oncologists. Found out that there was no cure yet developed as it is so rare. Basically they said they can treat it and they would be working to give the longest and most quality of life they could. Lasted 3 years. It completely changes how not only the patient lives but the entire family. Praying for strength for the Bell family and may they be able to find peace eventually.
This is horrible news for Mr. Bell and his family will be in our thoughts and prayers.
I cannot begin to imagine what you went through – that is heartbreaking.
My dad had lymphoma and has beaten it for now. How it affects the family is like nothing else. My dad completely changed and living with him was a living hell because of how the treatments made him act/feel. The worst part is that you know he isnt acting like on purpose, that its the medicine doing it. IT made him incredibly angry and irritable.
He went through 2 stem cell transplants and eventually beat it. He went from a go go go non stop hard worker to barely being able to do ahything but still wanting to.
If i ever get it i wont make my family have to suffer because of me, ill go in the backyard and just end it.. Hes a tough old bastard, im not half as tough.
Sorry for your loss but always remember your family will go through hard times no matter if you try to beat it or if you would go through with your plan. I can’t speak for what your experiences were while you dad was going through his treatments but I can speak for my self. My wife’s cancer was cholangiocarcinoma, cancer of the bile ducts. They don’t even know what causes it let alone treat it. It is what killed Kentucky offensive line coach John Schlarman last year. The first thing that my wife went through was a new procedure. Took almost 12 hours. They basically disconnected her liver, bathed it in chemo the reconnected it. After recovering from the surgery went on an aggressive chemo run. She chose this aggressive option because it5 offered the longest prognosis. She was only 53 when diagnosed. Still had one kid in undergrad in college. Our middle kid just got engaged earlier in the year. She wanted to be around as long as she could to still see some of life’s big moments. She got to attend the graduation and the wedding. Did not make it to see our oldest get married but knew they were engaged. and she got to go to an engagement party for them. Yes, we were sad but we all would have been far more sad if she would have instantly given up and she would have ended it herself with out giving it a shot. It isn’t easy without her but so glad I had the those last few years together. It is weird. What could have been the worst 3 years of my life were made better because we made that time special knowing that it was going to end but had no idea when. Ironically when all of our kids were younger and we all going to kid sports stuff, TIm McGraw’s song “Live like you are dyin” was popular.. My wife loved the song. That is how we approached life after she got diagnosed. We actually had to live like she was dying cause she was. You just might be surprised how tough you can be if you unfortunately had those shoe put on yourself. Be strong and keep being there for your dad! Life if short and you need to make the most of it!
sorry about your loss man stay strong
sorry for your loss.
Thanks for the kind words all…Life goes on……..just not as fun right noiw….
Great attitude on it, good for you sir! Be strong
Thanks, It is weird but thinks like this article actually really helps me. It takes me back to the years before my wife died and helps renew the strength that i had while she was going through treatment. The only thing that I ever prayed for was that that she would not have to suffer greatly and especially for strength so that I could support her and my kids the best that I could. When reading the article and being on the message board actually jars me back to the same mindset that i had for those years. Spent a lot of days when she was in getting treatments, scans, and the doctor’s appointments talking with other families and commiserating . You gain strength from talking to others who are going through what you are.
Life is precious and can be gone quickly. RIP Mr. Bell.
That’s awful. Cancer sucks.
RIP. But tough dude for coaching while being so sick.
F*** CANCER!
That was my wife’s favorite refrigerator magnet after she got diagnosed. That is all it said.
Nothing in this world that brings hatred to my heart but cancer brings that hatred out of me. So many good people lost, I know fair doesn’t exist but it’s still not fair.
R.I.P
Horrible f cancer
So I lost my father at 18 years old to leukemia. He was 45. Now as I reach my 40’s this coming December it has become more and more mind blowing of how young 45 is. I can imagine the pain that Mr. Bells family is going through. My deepest condolences and sympathies to them in this difficult time. May he rest in peace.
If there’s one thing all of us posters here on MLBTR can agree on – it’s cancer sucks. Thoughts and prayers going out to the Bell family as well as all of you here who have expressed a history with cancer.
This week has been very taxing on sports fans, whether death or injury. Rest in Baseball Heaven Mike, may it treat you well.
Few things make you feel your age more than when a guy that you remember as a “prospect” passes away. Great baseball family, always respected the game. Sad loss.
With all due luck, maybe he might get to play some ball with his grandfather and all of the other greats that preceded him.
Very sad for a great family. The Bells have been through their share of tragedies, including Mike & David’s cousin (Buddy Bell’s nephew) being killed defending our country during the war in Afghanistan. The Bells are one of the greatest baseball families ever (3 generations including grandfather, son, & 2 grandsons who all played at the highest level-same as the Boones). But they’re an even better family off the field. Condolences/Prayers to the Bell family & to their countless friends. Mike Bell was a great friend to all in the Twins organization.
Terrible news. Young guy. Heartbreaking.
Wow, I hate to see this. Mike played for our hometown Charleston Riverdogs back in 1994, and was one of the friendliest and most approachable players on the team. He was always gracious with the fans, and would sign autographs until the last kid or adult had gotten one. On top of that he was a fantastic player, and so easy to root for. He was a special person, and will be greatly missed.
My own dad is in his 50s now and I get scared something like this could take the old hoss out. Way to young, may he Rest In Peace and condolences to the Bell family. Mike Bell was such a kind soul.
Too young.
So sad. Thoughts go out to his family and the Twins
Reds fan…and obviously stunned to hear this…
May he Rest In Peace. And to you all with this, you got this!!
Not cool at all! Condolences to one of the best baseball families ever…
Wow that’s extremely sad. Prayers up to the bell family rip
i think all of us in Twins Territory are saddened by this news. We hardly got to know you but from all accounts Mike Bell was a great man and a great baseball mind. My heart goes out to his family. Lets do this for Him now!
Glad he got his time in the show. He lived his dream, God bless.
my condolences to the Bell family,such a tragic loss.