ARLINGTON, Texas — Hector Ortiz, who spent the last 18 years as a manager and coach in the Texas Rangers organization, died Wednesday morning at the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix, Arizona, the team said Wednesday.
Ortiz was 54 years old.
The Rangers said Ortiz died after a long battle with cancer. He had been battling cancer for more than three years, which inspired Rangers coach Bobby Wilson to design a blue hoodie with a Texas-inspired catcher’s mask and “Hector Strong” on the sleeve with proceeds of the hoodie sales going to support families battling cancer.
"Mr. Ortiz was a beloved member of the Texas Rangers organization who had an enormous impact as a teacher of the game, a mentor to players and staff, and a loyal friend to so many," the team said in a release. "He brought a positive attitude and spirit to the ballpark each and every day, and his influence on the Rangers’ baseball operations department will not soon be forgotten."
Ortiz had been a coach on the minor league player development staff for the last three years after serving on the Rangers’ Major League coaching staff from 2015-20 as first base coach (2015-17; 2019), bullpen coach (2018) and catching coordinator (2020) for managers Jeff Banister and Chris Woodward.
Before that, Ortiz managed and coached in Texas’ minor league system at several levels from 2005-14 and managed several years in the Puerto Rican Winter League.
Ortiz played 18 seasons as a catcher from 1988-2005, including 93 Major League games with Kansas City (1998; 2000-01) and Texas (2002), appearing in seven games with the Rangers in 2002.
"The Rangers send their thoughts and prayers to Hector’s wife Elaine, children Christian, Rian, and Logan, and all his friends and family at their loss. He will not be forgotten," Rangers officials said.
The Rangers will observe a moment of silence in the memory of Ortiz prior to Thursday’s game against the Milwaukee Brewers at Surprise Stadium. Information on a memorial service will be announced at a later date.
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