Former major leaguer Mike Brumley died in a car crash on Saturday night at the age of 61.
The incident occurred in Mississippi, according to a report from Field Level Media.
Brumley’s major league career spanned from 1987 to 1995 when he played for six teams in the MLB and was first drafted by the Red Sox in 1983.
Following his playing career, Brumley continued to work in baseball as a coach and most recently worked with the Braves organization, where developed close relationships with several players including Austin Riley.
Riley told reporters on Sunday that he had been awoken at 2:30 a.m. about the news.
“There are very few people that have been role models in my baseball career, my dad being No. 1 and Mike Brumley being No. 2,” Riley said. “I feel for his family and his kids and everybody that he was close to. This is a tragic day. Prayers out to his family. It’s a tough pill to swallow.”
Riley said that he had worked with Brumley earlier in the week when the Braves had been in Baltimore and said that he had conversations with the former MLB infielder on a regular basis.
The news added extra emotion for Riley on Sunday when he hit his third consecutive home run in as many games to tie the Braves game against the Rays in the bottom of the eighth.
Riley pointed to the sky as he rounded first.
“He was in the back of my mind the whole time, Riley said. “Really all day and it’s just tough.”
The Mariners, where Brumley played in 1990 and later coached, also paid tribute to Brumley on Sunday in a post on X.
“We are saddened by the passing of former Mariners player and coach, Mike Brumley,” the Mariners wrote. “Our hearts go out to his family, friends and loved ones. Mike’s impact on the field, in our organization and across baseball, was felt by generations of players”
Brumley made his MLB debut with the Cubs in 1987.
He played for the Tigers, Mariners, Red Sox, Astros, and Athletics.
He was also a part of the Padres, Orioles, Angels and Marlins organizations but never played at the major league level for any of them.