Former Diamondbacks GM Kevin Towers passes away from cancer

Former Arizona Diamondbacks general manager Kevin Towers died on Monday night at the age of 56 after a battle with cancer.

“KT was the epitome of a good baseball man who played a significant role in the history of the D-backs, and his contributions to our franchise will never be forgotten,” said D-backs Managing General Partner Ken Kendrick in a statement. “He fought hard until the very end, as we all knew he would, and I will always remember him for his positive outlook on life. Baseball lost a great executive and person.”

Towers headed the Diamondbacks’ front office from 2010-14 after leading the San Diego Padres’ organization from 1995-2009. The Padres went to the 1998 World Series, their second in franchise history.

The D-backs won the NL West in 2011 and with a 94-68 record lost to the Milwaukee Brewers in the NLDS. Arizona went 320-328 (.494) under Towers’ leadership.

“We lost an important member of our family and someone I personally love dearly,” D-backs President and CEO Derrick Hall said in a statement. “He was one of the biggest personalities the game has ever seen, with a heart of gold and an eye for talent. He could not get enough of baseball, and baseball could not get enough of our KT.

“It is no surprise he fought for extra innings. Our love goes out to Kelley, his family and everyone who knew him.”

Towers’ staff is responsible for drafting current D-back relievers Archie Bradley and Braden Shipley, plus starting pitcher Trevor Bauer, who was traded to the Cleveland Indians a year later in 2012.

Chief baseball officer Tony La Russa was hired to oversee Towers in 2014, and Towers left the organization soon after before the general manager position was filled by Dave Stewart.

The illness that affected Towers was not widely known, but former D-backs manager A.J. Hinch, while leading the Houston Astros to the World Series, revealed that his former boss was in a battle with cancer.

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