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The Angels – Mike Brito, the scout of the Los Angeles Dodgers, key in the hiring of Fernando Valenzuela and who became an emblematic character of the team with a mustache, his Panama hat, his cigar and his radar gun, died on Thursday. He was 87 years old.
The Dodgers announced the death to the public before the game against the Chicago Cubs.
Then, a minute of silence was observed in memory of Cuban Brito.
Several photos of the legendary seeker were shown on the park’s giant screen, as well as some of the talents he discovered during his nearly 45-year career with the club, including Valenzuela himself, fellow Mexican Julio Urías, current pitcher for the Dodgers, and Cuban Yasiel Puig.
The death occurred at a Los Angeles hospital. The cause has not been announced.
For years, Brito was a constant presence behind the plate, dressed in his smart suit, as he tracked the speed of Valenzuela’s and other pitchers’ pitches.
“My heart is sad today,” Valenzuela said in a statement released by the Dodgers.
“Mike was a great man, key to my success as a player on and off the field. No one loved the Dodgers organization more than Mike, and he will be dearly missed by all of us. He prayed for his wife, Rosario, and for all his family and friends.”
More recently, Brito used a cane and watched the games from the press box.
Brito was linked to the team’s most recent World Series championship, following the pandemic-shortened 2020 season.
In the sixth game against Tampa Bay, the Mexican Víctor González was the winner and Urías took the save.
The two pitchers were hired by Brito, who remained part of the club’s scouting group until his death.
The Los Angeles Dodgers are saddened by the passing of legendary international scout Mike Brito, who worked in the Dodger organization for nearly 45 years and passed away this evening at the age of 87. Our thoughts are with Brito’s family and friends. pic.twitter.com/qZ0j0tZpki
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) July 8, 2022
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Before gaining international notoriety as a scout, Brito played in the Washington Senators minor league system from 1955 to 1961.
He reached the Triple A level and played professionally in Mexico from 1961 to 1966.
Brito moved to Los Angeles in 1968.
Through his work as a scout in the Mexican League, he became associated with the Dodgers and with Al Campanis, who was the general manager and hired him full-time in 1978.
The first player he hired was Bobby Castillo.
In 1979, Brito convinced Campanis to sign Valenzuela, who became the most successful Mexican player in major league history. He won the Cy Young Award and was named Rookie of the Year in 1981 after leading the Dodgers to the World Series title.
Brito helped hire more than thirty players who reached the Major Leagues, including pitchers Antonio Osuna, Dennys Reyes and Ismael Valdez, as well as Juan Castro.
He appeared as a talent scout in the 1991 film “Talent for the Game.”
He is survived by his wife Rosario, as well as his daughters Diana and Minerva.
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