Texas Rangers Scout Scott Littlefield Passes Away

Scott Littlefield, a special assistant player for the Texas Rangers, tragically passed away on Friday at the age of 59. The team’s announcement came on Saturday. It’s reported that he died in his hotel room in Houston after suffering a heart attack. Littlefield had previously undergone heart surgery two years ago.

“Scott was one of the most respected scouts in Major League Baseball, who had an incredible influence on the organization,” said Chris Young, President of the Rangers. “His voice was influential in every aspect of the baseball business, from amateur to international scouting and evaluating major league players. He was an invaluable resource and advisor.”

Beyond his professional accolades, Young added, “More importantly, he was one of the most authentic and caring individuals in the game.” Littlefield was honored as the 2019 Red Jacket Scout of the Year and had joined the Rangers in November 2009, becoming a vital part of the team’s scouting efforts.

Prior to his tenure with the Rangers, Littlefield worked with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Atlanta Braves, and San Diego Padres, where he earned the title of Scout of the Year in 2007.

Littlefield also had family connections in baseball; he was the brother of former Pirates general manager Dan Littlefield and the uncle of Mark Littlefield, who is a medical coordinator for the New York Yankees.

The Rangers will be honoring Littlefield during their game against the Miami Marlins on Saturday evening at 7:05 PM ET.

The team is currently facing challenges on the field as they’ve lost their last five games, finishing the season at 79-75. Previously in contention for a wildcard spot in the American League, their recent performance has hindered their postseason hopes. They now sit five games behind the Houston Astros for the third wildcard position with only eight games remaining in the season, needing both victories and some assistance from other teams to keep their playoff dreams alive.