The former gardener of the Orioles, Chito Martínez, the first and only the MLB player of Belize, has died, the team announced on Tuesday.
He was 59 years old.
“We regret the death of the former gardener of the Orioles Chito Martínez, the only native of Belize to play in the elders,” the Orioles said in a statement about X.
1991 at the Memorial Stadium in Baltimore. Getty images
He thought that an official cause of death was not announced, Crescent City Sports reported that Martínez suffered a heart attack.
A GOFUNDME page created to help his family said Martínez had a “series of hospitalizations” in recent weeks and died on Sunday.
“As a ball player myself as I grew up, I never had his talent, but he always admired him,” said his brother, Robbie, Crescent City Sports. “They called Chito” Mex “and called me” Little Mex. “He introduced me to baseball in 1983 and 1984 at Brother Martin.
Martínez, born in Belize in 1965, emigrated to New Orleans with his family when he was 2 years old.
He starred in Brother Martin High School and was recruited by the Royals in the sixth Round of the MLB of the 1984 MLB.
Sox on May 13, 1991 at the Stadium Memorial in Baltimore. Getty images
After six years in the minor leagues with Kansas City, he realized the orioles and made his MLB debut in 1991.
Duration in its rookie season, hit 13 home runs with 33 ranked races and a .817 OPS.
Sox on July 8, 1992 in Oriole Park in Camden Yards in Baltimore. Getty images
Martínez played two more seasons in the big leagues, ending with a cut line of .259/.330/.445 and 18 long balls.
“Our hearts are with the Crusader Baseball Legend Chito Martinez ’84,” wrote Brother Martin’s baseball program in X ..
“Please pray for them.
