Former Diamondbacks and Padres general manager Kevin Towers has died at the age of 56.
Towers served as the Arizona Diamondbacks' general manager from 2010-2014. The D-backs won the National League West division in 2011.
Sports Illustrated reported Towers was diagnosed with a rare form of thyroid cancer in December 2016.
“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,” D-backs managing general partner Ken Kendrick said 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.”
D-backs president and CEO Derrick Hall said Towers was "someone I personally love dearly" and an important member of the D-backs family.
“He was one of the biggest personalities the game has ever seen, with a heart of gold and an eye for talent," Hall said. "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.”
Before his time with the Diamondbacks, Towers was the Padres' general manager from 1995-2009. Under his watch, the Padres won National League West Division titles in 1996, 1998, 2005 and 2006. The 1998 team made it to the World Series, but fell to the New York Yankees.
