Kimera Bartee facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kimera Bartee |
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Bartee with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2017
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| Outfielder / Coach | |||
| Born: July 21, 1972 Omaha, Nebraska |
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| Died: December 21, 2021 (aged 49) Omaha, Nebraska |
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| debut | |||
| April 3, 1996, for the Detroit Tigers | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| August 3, 2001, for the Colorado Rockies | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .216 | ||
| Home runs | 4 | ||
| Runs batted in | 33 | ||
| Teams | |||
As player
As coach
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Kimera Anotchi Bartee (born July 21, 1972 – died December 20, 2021) was an American professional baseball player. He played as an outfielder and later became a coach.
Bartee played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for several teams. These included the Detroit Tigers, Cincinnati Reds, and Colorado Rockies. His playing career in MLB lasted from 1996 to 2001. After his playing days, he became a coach. He coached in the minor leagues and later in MLB for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Philadelphia Phillies, and again for the Detroit Tigers.
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Early Life and High School
Kimera Bartee was born in Omaha, Nebraska. He attended Omaha Central High School. He was the first student from Omaha Central to play in Major League Baseball. In 2018, he was honored for his achievements. He was inducted into the Omaha Public Schools Athletic Hall of Fame.
College Baseball Career
Bartee went to Creighton University. There, he played college baseball for the Creighton Bluejays team. He even played with Creighton in the 1991 College World Series. This is a big tournament for college baseball teams. In 1992, he also played summer baseball. He joined the Hyannis Mets in the Cape Cod Baseball League.
Professional Playing Career
The Baltimore Orioles picked Bartee in the 14th round of the 1993 MLB Draft. This is when professional teams choose new players. Later, in 1995, the Orioles traded him to the Minnesota Twins.
He made his first Major League Baseball game with the Detroit Tigers. This happened on April 3, 1996. For the next few years, he played for the Tigers. He also played for their minor league team, the Toledo Mud Hens. In 1997, Baseball America magazine recognized his skills. They called him the fastest baserunner and best defensive outfielder in the International League.
In 1999, Bartee was traded from Detroit to the Cincinnati Reds. He spent most of the year 2000 with the Reds' minor league team, the Louisville RiverBats.
Later, Bartee joined the Los Angeles Angels. He had a back injury that needed time to heal. On July 13, 2001, he was traded to the Colorado Rockies. He played his final Major League game on August 3, 2001.
After MLB, Bartee continued to play baseball. In 2003 and 2004, he played for the Long Island Ducks. This team is part of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. He was named an All-Star and helped the Ducks win a championship in 2004.
Coaching Career
After his playing career ended, Bartee became a baseball coach. He coached for the Delmarva Shorebirds. He also worked as an instructor for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Later, he became the manager for the State College Spikes.
From 2017 to 2019, Bartee was a first base coach for the Pittsburgh Pirates. He also taught outfielders. In 2020, he worked for the Philadelphia Phillies. He helped players with baserunning and bunting. Before the 2021 season, the Detroit Tigers hired him. He became their coach for outfielders and baserunning. On July 16, 2021, he was named the first base coach for the Tigers. The Tigers planned for him to continue this role in 2022.
Personal Life and Passing
Kimera Bartee had three children: Andrew, Amari, and Taeja.
On December 20, 2021, Bartee passed away. He was visiting his father in Omaha when he collapsed. An examination later found a large tumor in his brain. He was 49 years old.
