Hector Ortiz , Texas Rangers Coach, What Caused His Demise?
After an extended fight with cancer, Hector Ortiz, who served as the Texas Rangers organization’s manager and coach for the previous 18 years, passed away on Wednesday. 54 was his age.
Not far from the team’s spring training facility in the Surprise neighborhood, the Rangers reported Ortiz passed away at the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix.
After working as a major league staff member for two prior managers, Jeff Banister and Chris Woodward, Hector Ortiz spent the last three years as a coach on the minor league player development staff.
In addition to serving as the first base coach for four seasons, Ortiz also served as the catching coordinator and coach for the bullpen. He spent numerous years managing the Puerto Rican Winter League in addition to managing and coaching in the Rangers’ minor league system.
From 1988 until 2005, the former catcher participated in 18 professional seasons, including action in 93 major league games with Kansas City and seven with the Rangers. The Los Angeles Dodgers selected Ortiz in the 1988 MLB Draft.
Rangers manager Bobby Wilson created a blue hoodie featuring a catcher’s mask reminiscent of Texas and the words “Hector Strong” on the sleeve as a result of Ortiz’s three-year cancer struggle. Sales revenue has helped cancer-stricken families.
