Longtime Los Angeles Dodgers scout Mike Brito passed away Thursday night at the age of 87. Brito is survived by his wife, Rosario, two daughters, Diana and Minerva, and four granddaughters.
A native of Cuba, Brito was part of the Washington Senators’ Minor League system from 1955-61 and later played professionally in Mexico from 1961-66. He moved to Los Angeles in 1968 and through work as a Mexican League scout, began to work for then-Dodgers general manager Al Campanis.
Brito was hired full time by the Dodgers in 1978 and went on to sign Robert “Bobby” Castillo as his first addition to the organization. However, it was Brito’s signing of Fernando Valenzuela that put his stamp on the Dodgers organization.
“My heart is very heavy today,” Valenzuela said in a statement. “Mike was a great man and instrumental in my success as a baseball player on and off the field. No one loved the Dodger organization more than Mike and we will all miss him very much.
“My prayers go out to his wife, Rosario, and all of his family and friends.”
Prior to Valenzuela in 1979 and joining the Dodgers roster the following year, fewer than 40 players born in Mexico had ever played in MLB.
All told, Brito helped sign more than 30 players to the Dodgers organization, who then went on to play in the Majors, including Valenzuela, Castillo, Julio Urías, Yasiel Puig, Ismael Vadez, Antonio Osuna, Juan Castro and Dennis Reyes.
Brito became a fixture at Dodger Stadium, often sitting behind home plate in a trademark Panama hat, with a cigar and radar gun in tow. As part of the annual Dodgers dress-up day in 2021, Jaime Jarrín went as Brito and placed fifth in voting for best costume.
In 2017, the Dodgers sold a special ticket package for Cuba Day at Dodger Stadium. Purchase included the Panama hat that Brito helped make popular.
Mike Brito career awards
Brito was elected to the Cuban Baseball Hall of Fame in 2005 and was named International Scout of the Year at the 2014 Winter Meetings in San Diego. Last year, he was the recipient of Baseball America’s 2021 Tony Gwynn Award for his lifetime of contributions to the game.
Funeral services are pending.
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