Twins coach, former Ranger Mike Bell has died at age 46

Mike Bell, Minnesota Twins bench coach and former Texas Rangers first round pick, died today as a result of cancer, the team announced. He was 46.

Bell was a Cincinnati native who was the grandson of longtime Reds great Gus Bell, the son of Ranger great Buddy Bell, and the brother of former major league third baseman and current Cincinnati Reds manager David Bell. Mike was a first round pick (30th overall) of the Texas Rangers in 1993, though he never made it to the majors with the Rangers.

Texas traded him to the Anaheim Angels in October, 1997, for lefthanded pitcher Matt Perisho. Bell was then selected in the expansion draft two weeks later by the Arizona Diamondbacks, who traded him to the New York Mets three months later at the start of spring training. Bell finally made it to the majors with the Reds in 2000.

After retiring as a player after the 2005 season, he joined the Arizona Diamondbacks as a minor league manager, and had various roles in their organization until leaving after the 2019 season to join the Twins as a bench coach.

Our condolences to the Twins organization and the Bell family.