Longtime Texas Rangers scout Scott Littlefield died Friday at the age of 59, the team has announced.
Littlefield, who had been an integral part of the MLB team for 16 years, was reportedly found dead in a Houston hotel room, according to USA Today.
The personnel special assistant was on assignment for the Rangers at the time and is believed to have suffered a heart attack.
The esteemed scout reportedly underwent heart surgery two years ago and his passing has left the baseball world in a state of shock and disbelief.
‘Scott was one of the most respected scouts in Major League Baseball who had an incredible impact on this organization,’ said Chris Young, Rangers president of baseball operations.
‘His voice was influential in all aspects of our baseball operation from professional, amateur, and international scouting to Major League player evaluation. He was an invaluable resource and advisor.
‘More importantly, he was one of the most genuine and caring individuals in the game. The Littlefields are a baseball family with his two children and two brothers all working for MLB teams. Several of us were just with Scott in Houston this week, and his passion for our team never waned.’
The son-in-law of former MLB catcher and Giants coach John Van Ornum, Littlefield is survived by his wife Heather.
He also leaves behind his son Tyler, 27, and daughter Erika, 24. Tyler is a scout for the San Diego Padres, while Erika is an amateur scouting assistant for the Baltimore Orioles.
Littlefield, a two-time scout of the year, is the brother of former Pirates GM Dave Littlefield and Mark Littlefield, a medical coordinator for the New York Yankees.
He joined the Rangers’ organization in 2009, going to become heavily involved in the scouting department.
The franchise honored him as the Red Jacket Scout of the Year in 2019. Throughout his 34-year career, Littlefield also earned nods as MLB’s Scout of the Year twice, first with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2007 and again with the Rangers in 2019.
Before joining the Rangers, Littlefield had stints with the Pirates, Atlanta Braves and San Diego Padres, where he became a close confidant of now-Texas manager Bruce Bochy.
‘He was a scout’s scout and loved baseball and being a scout more than anyone I have ever met,’ said Rangers scout Mike Anderson, one of his closest friends. ‘It’s the only job he ever wanted, and he did it for 34 years.’
More to follow.
