Cuban Mike Brito, legendary scout for the Los Angeles Dodgers, died on Thursday at the age of 87 in the United States, for reasons still unknown, after working for almost 45 years with the Major League organization.
“The Dodgers mourn the passing of legendary international scout Mike Brito, who worked with our organization for nearly 45 years. Brito passed away at the age of 87. Our thoughts are with his family and friends, ”the North American team said on its Twitter account the day before.
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
“I learned a lot from him talking about players and just watching the game,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “No matter where a baseball game is on the map, if there was a potential prospect, Mike would be there and look at him,” he added.
In his years of work with the Los Angeles team, Brito was responsible for the signing of Cienfuegos slugger Yasiel Puig and the outstanding Mexican pitcher Fernando Valenzuela. Also from the current Dodgers pitcher, Julio Urías. “I have no words. You changed my life Mike Brito. You and your white hat, sir,” Puig wrote on social media.
The Cuban, born on the island in 1934, was considered the best scout in Mexico for the Dodgers. He had been with the Dodgers since 1978. Before working as a scout, he played baseball in the United States, where he reached 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 then-general manager Al Campanis, who hired Brito full-time in 1978, recalls a report from the Washington Post.
Brito convinced Campanis to sign Valenzuela, who would go on to become the most successful Mexican-born pitcher in Major League history. “Mike was a great man and was instrumental in my success as a baseball player on and off the field. No one loved the Dodgers organization more than Mike and he will be dearly missed by all,” Valenzuela said.
Due to his successful career, he was elected to the Cuban Baseball Hall of Fame in 2005 and was named International Scout of the Year at the 2014 Major League Baseball (MLB) winter meetings. In 2021, he received Baseball America’s Tony Gwynn Award for his contributions to the game.
Other players who came to the Los Angeles team thanks to his management were Bobby Castillo, Julio Urías, Ismael Valdez, Joakim Soria and Víctor González, among a total of 32 Major League players.
“Unfortunate news. The Los Angeles Dodgers SUPER SCOUT passed away last night. Mike Brit. Cuban Pride and discoverer of a huge number of Talents in MLB Baseball and Latin America. Always with the characteristic Panama Hat and his cigar. He was a living legend, given his keen eye and his ability to predict, ”said the renowned Cuban coach, Orlando Chinea, a former member of the national team and coach of pitcher José Fernández, on social networks.
