Kevin Towers

Kevin Towers 2007

Kevin Towers (November 11, 1961 – January 30, 2018) was an American baseball executive and General Manager in Major League Baseball (MLB). Towers was known for his tenure as the General Manager of the San Diego Padres and the Arizona Diamondbacks, where he made significant contributions to the teams' successes during his periods of leadership.

Early Life and Career

Kevin Towers was born in Medford, Oregon, and attended Brigham Young University, where he played college baseball as a pitcher. After college, Towers was drafted by the San Diego Padres in the 1st round of the 1982 MLB draft. Although his playing career was cut short due to injuries, Towers transitioned into a scouting and executive role within baseball.

San Diego Padres

Towers began his executive career with the Padres in 1995, becoming one of the youngest General Managers in MLB at that time. Under his leadership, the Padres won four National League West titles (1996, 1998, 2005, and 2006) and reached the 1998 World Series, where they were defeated by the New York Yankees. Towers was known for his ability to build competitive teams on limited budgets and for his acumen in scouting and player development.

Arizona Diamondbacks

In 2010, Towers was appointed as the General Manager of the Arizona Diamondbacks. He quickly turned the team around from a last-place finish in 2010 to winning the National League West division in 2011. Towers' tenure with the Diamondbacks was marked by several high-profile trades and free agent signings, although not all were met with success.

Legacy

Kevin Towers passed away on January 30, 2018, after battling thyroid cancer. He is remembered as a respected figure in the baseball community, known for his passion for the game, his eye for talent, and his friendly demeanor. Towers left a lasting impact on the teams he managed and the people he worked with throughout his career in baseball.

See Also

• List of Major League Baseball general managers
• San Diego Padres
• Arizona Diamondbacks