Former Orioles outfielder Chito Martinez, Belize’s first and only MLB player, announced on Tuesday.
He was 59 years old.
“We lament the death of former Orioles outfielder Chito Martinez, the only native Belize player to play in the majors,” the Orioles said in a statement from X.
Memorial Stadium in Baltimore in 1991. Getty Images
The official cause of death has not been announced, Crescent City Sports reported Martinez suffered a heart attack.
GoFundMe page is set His family said Martinez died Sunday, saying he has had “a series of hospitalizations” over the past few weeks.
“I didn’t have the talent because the ballplayer is growing, but I always respected him,” his brother, Robbie, told Crescent City Sports. “They called the cheats “Mex” and me called the “little Mex.” He introduced me to baseball.
Born in Belize in 1965, Martinez moved to New Orleans with his family at the age of two.
He appeared at brother Martin High School and was drafted by the Royals in the sixth round of the 1984 MLB Draft.
Socks were held at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore on May 13th, 1991. Getty Images
Six years after a minor league match against Kansas City, he caught up with the Orioles and made his MLB debut in 1991.
During his rookie season, he hit 13 home runs with 33 RBIs and .817 OPS.
On July 8, 1992, he went to Oriole Park in Camden Yard, Baltimore. Getty Images
Martinez played two more seasons in the big leagues, finishing with a .259/.330/.445 slash line and 18 long balls.
“Our hearts are directed towards the family of Crusader baseball legend Cheat Martinez ’84,” the Martin brothers baseball program wrote in X.
“Pray for them during these difficult times.”
