The Tigers organization is in mourning today, as they announced the tragic passing of first base coach Kimera Bartee at just 49 years of age.
“All of us in the Tigers baseball family were shocked and saddened to learn that first base coach Kimera Bartee suddenly passed away on Monday at the age of 49,” Tigers general manager Al Avila said in a statement released this morning. “Throughout his time in our organization as both a player and coach, Kimera was known as a kind soul but intense competitor who did his best every day to elevate those around him to do great things. While Tigers fans got used to seeing him in the first base coach’s box, Kimera’s impact on our ballclub went far deeper and will be sorely missed. In speaking with Kimera’s father, Jerry Bartee, we offered our condolences and support to his family. The thoughts and prayers of everyone in the organization are with Kimera’s family and friends, and his memory and spirit will never be forgotten.”
“Like many across baseball, I was devastated by the news of Kimera’s passing,” manager A.J. Hinch said in his own statement. “From the start of spring training last year, it was clear that ’KB’ was the epitome of a player’s coach, having an uncanny ability to build deep connections with anyone from a rookie to a 10-year veteran. I was proud of his selflessness and adaptability when he quickly shifted to the Major League staff last season, and how excited he was about the bright future he had in both baseball and life. The sport has lost an amazing man, but more importantly his family has lost a loving fiancé, father, and son.”
A 14th-round pick of the Orioles back in 1993, Bartee wound up making his Major League debut with the Tigers three years later on the heels of a trade and a selection in the Rule 5 Draft. A center fielder, he spent parts of the next four seasons in Detroit and also made brief big league stops in Cincinnati and Colorado before retiring as a player.
Following his retirement, Bartee worked as a coach and instructor within the Pirates, Phillies and Tigers organizations. He managed in the lower levels of the Pirates’ system and served as a minor league baserunning and outfield coordinator before eventually joining the Major League staff as first base/outfield coach from 2017-19. Bartee worked as an outfield instructor within the Phillies organization in 2020 and joined the Tigers as first base coach in the 2020-21 offseason. He was set to return to Hinch’s coaching staff for a second season in 2022.
We at MLBTR offer heartfelt condolences to Bartee’s loved ones, teammates and the entire Tigers organization.
tough week in the baseball community. RIP KB.
49 is young to just suddenly die. Anyone hear anything more in Andres Melendez?
Quite sad to pass so young.
R.I.P. Kimera. Unfortunately the last three former players to leave us have each been 55 or younger (the others being Richie Lewis and Ron Blazier), that’s sad.
Such sad news.
Sad news so close to Christmas too. Rip
Rip
Rest In Peace. You will be missed. Love and prayers to his family
Rip. God bless his family.
According to the Tigers press release, “He leaves behind three children.” Very sad.
Prayers up. Life is short don’t take it for granted
You’re so right. I had a 48 yo colleague who flew home last week on business from NY to LAX only to die in a car crash on the way home. Not looking for sympathy, only emphasizing your point. Life is short.
Buried my 44 year old wife, 42 year old brother, and 25 year old daughter over the past nine years, embrace those you love today. RIP, Mr. Bartee.
Sorry man
I am so sorry to hear about that, Mikey. That is absolutely wrong. I hope you have found peace.
Thanks, buddy. I was the poster boy for complacency, happy, healthy, family. Decent job, bills paid. Cancer didn’t exist in my world, addiction killed other families, you know ? Well, I found out. Watched my wife get cancer, suffer and die. Unreal. Two years later, my younger brother, my only sibling, suffered and died in an eerily similar manner. My daughter developed an addiction following her mothers sudden passing, and despite every effort, passed away three years ago. Again, the only message I would like to echo, is do all you can to be more helpful to those around you. Go the extra mile. Be more aware and involved. Savor those good times.
As a fellow addict (I won’t open that box, just quick comment) I can say your daughter was in deep pain to die that young from addiction. So very sorry to hear about your losses in such a short time. And prayers to the Bartee family. Such a young man to pass so suddenly. They say the Great Lord will never give you more than you can handle, but boy oh boy does that philosophy get challenged from time to time! RIP to your family Mikey and to Kimera. So sad….
Thanks, Dtown. Continued success in that battle.
Prayers for you my friend
So sorry
Blessings on you Mikey.
Wow!! God bless Mikey.
@Hammer –
Thanks for posting that. Could not have been easy & the honesty is pretty powerful for a sports blog. Hell, for anywhere actually. Certainly puts things in perspective, man.
No idea what to say other than what everyone else is. Glad you were here to remind us all of what is really important.
Prayers & positive thoughts for you & Bartee’s family & friends.
Here for you brother! God saves in the end!
Mikey.. I’m sorry, condolences, 29 year old son, 52 year old brother.. I understand you somewhat, but the wife… I’m so sorry friend
OldBaseballFriend- condolences to you too, it hurts but they are in a much, MUCH better place! God bless
Wow. So sorry for all your pain. As a husband and father I can’t imagine. But thanks for the reminder to maximize our time here.
A former Oriole, who never played for their big league team
May he rest in peace!
Shame too, because I think the Tigers are going to be good in 2022
You really don’t know the time or place.
If there is baseball, the Tigers may make the post season.
Especially if there’s an expanded playoffs. I think 2 teams more per league for 4 more total.
So sad. I feel for his family. Live every day as if it is your last. You just never know when you run out of time.
R.I.P.
Rip. I remember his name well going through stats as a kid. Let him continue to coach and teach us life lessons, always keep the peace and tell your family you love them. Never know what life has ordered up.
So many, so young lately. Terrible. Between these baseball deaths and soccer heart attacks, it’s almost like there’s a trend…
I see a trend of jerks looking to blame every untimely death to fit their anti-vaccination stance. You guys are just as bad as the people you are complaining about.
Perk, don’t assume the worst about someone. I don’t know RL’s stance on vaccines and he is intimating that these are vaccine-related deaths. I’ll just take his words as written and not attribute any mean-spiritedness to them.
At least one of them is in the public discourse.
We’re *not supposed* to talk about the other one
Your comment Perkins was literally the first one associated with this article that I saw with the word vaccination in it. Maybe stop trying to shoehorn every tragedy to fit your persecution complex.
I damn near had a heart attack just thinkin about soccer, lol. Ugh, I’m getting old!
First, sad news. Prayers for his family.
Secondly, Kimera was traded by the Angels to Colorado for Chone Figgins. Hopefully an interesting bit of trivia.
Haha you beat me to this by 2 minutes! A big point because Figgins was a major part of the best years in Angels history.
I was just about to write this yes that’s what I remember him from he brought us Figgy
Rest in Peace.
It seems like he had a bright future in the game. Such sad news. Never a good time for something like this, but makes it even worse during the Holidays. God Bless his family. RIP Kimera
nothing regarding his death has been linked to covid or his vaccination, so why would anyone mention it? it wasnt specified how he passed, so lets not assume anything, its a terrible loss for baseball, RIP and i do hope the tigers make the playoffs, alot of time when something happens whether its an attack, death, natural disaster etc you see a team rally together, Ron Johnson who was a red sox first base coach, died January of 2021, its awful and nobodys ever sure what to do or say, ‘ im sorry and rip’ arent enough anymore.
“I’m sorry for your loss” and “Rest in peace” are not only necessary and sufficient comments regarding another’s passing but anything more are generally too presumptuous of an intimacy with the deceased’s life and therefore inappropriate for most people, except for sharing fond memories of the deceased’s life, if one knew him/her. Accept condolences from others in the generous spirit with which they’re intended, regardless of their imperfect delivery.
Alot of young folks suddenly passing away this year. Very odd.
I’ll always remember Kimera Bartee as the player the Angels traded to Colorado for Chone Figgins. RIP Kimera.
A person dies and automatically some people think it’s a reason to post COVID. A man died to young…this is not the place for posting anti vaxxers crap…rip
A good man who leaves us way too soon. RIP.
Shocking news. He seemed to have a great future ahead of him too. What a huge loss to his family, friends, and the Detroit Tigers organization.
Some people could literally be on pornhub and they’d still somehow feel the need to get political (smh). I admit, I’m curious as to how he died though. Does anyone know cuz it doesn’t say in the article??
It’s quite normal to want to know how a young or middle-aged person passed, In most cases, I’d guess it was a heart attack for a 49-year-old male. It’s possible they don’t know yet. If he was healthy and then found dead, an autopsy would need to be performed, and that could take a few days.
his cause of death isnt anyone’s business.
Some of you are why comments are usually closed for some posts that contain sensitive information (like domestic abuse).
This is a sad day for the Tigers and his loved ones. Would you go to his funeral and make those stupid statements? Why do it here then?
Such a pleasant man. First thought every time.
Second thought upon hearing this tragic news – a whippet as a player, he had gained a concerning amount of weight. More than enough to be worrisome.
Very sad for his loved ones. There were many.
How sad. How confusing. Very, very sad.
Brain tumor was the cause.
So flipping sad. Was he in Austin recently?