Texas Rangers coach and former catcher Hector Ortiz dies at 54

Longtime Texas Rangers coach and former catcher Hector Ortiz passed away at the age of 54 after a prolonged battle with cancer.

A native of Puerto Rico, Ortiz attended both junior college and college in Texas, where he was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 1988 Draft.

His seventeen year MLB career saw Ortiz spend eight years in the Dodger organization, five years in Kansas City with the Royals, two with the Chicago Cubs, and one each with the Rockies, Rays, Rangers, and Nationals before retiring in 2005.

He finished his career with a .288 batting average, with an OBP of .339 and a .697 OPS. Behind the plate, Ortiz caught 684.0 innings, allowing only one passed ball.

Immediately entering the Texas Rangers organization as a minor league coach, he served as hitting coach, catching coordinator, and manager before becoming first base coach for the Rangers in 2015. Ortiz became bullpen coach in 2018 before returning to first base in 2019 and then being appointed catching coach in 2020.

After a prolonged struggle against pancreatic cancer, Hector Ortiz passed away on February 28 at the age of 54.

The Texas Rangers released a statement saying, “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. 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. His courageous fight of more than three years against cancer 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.”

The statement continued, “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.”

Heart-felt condolences from all the staff at Diario AS are extended to the Ortiz family and friends.