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Chito Martinez, the only MLB player ever from Belize, has died, Baltimore Orioles announced on Tuesday. He was 59.
Martinez played three years in Majors for Orioles as an outfielder from 1991 to 1993. He played in 158 career games and hit .259 with 18 home runs, 58 RBI and 22 doubles.
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Chito Martinez from Orioles before a game against Chicago White Sox on July 8, 1992 at Camden Yards in Baltimore. (Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
“We make sure that former Orioles -outfielder Chito Martinez, the only natives in Belize played in majors,” Orioles said in a post on X.
Dalton Martinez, Chito’s son, wrote on X that his father died at Easter.
“On Sunday night at Easter, my father was unexpectedly taken away from this earth,” he wrote. “We desperately need help in this time. My dad was one of the best men. Teached the game in baseball the right way. Teached young men how to be better. His presence in my life can never be replaced. When I pick up the pieces for my life, consider helping.
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“A friendly soul has left us too early.”
The cause of death was not made known.
Chito Martinez was a sixth round election in the 1984 draft of Kansas City Royals out of brother Martin High School in New Orleans.
Royals released him in 1990 and he signed with Orioles days later. Orioles released him after the 1993 season and he later joined Minnesota Twins. But he never appeared with the twins.
