Sportsnet Reporter Hazel Mae’s Filipino father Tito Mae has died, Toronto Blue Jays mourns death

53-year-old Filipino-Canadian designer and former basketball player Kevin Barker’s wife Hazel Mae has tragically lost her Filipino father.  The former Major League Baseball reporter lost her pops to death early Monday, July 31, 2023. A participant on the Toronto Blue Jays club online platform posted about the tragic news while sending condolences to the beloved mother of one and fashion icon. “Toronto Blue Jays Fan Clubhouse – Want to send out heartfelt condolences to Hazel Mae on the great loss of her pops.”

Who Was Hazel Mae?

53-year-old Hazel Mae and her family are mourning the death of their father who passed away unexpectedly. The father of five who fled to Canada in search for a better future for his children years ago died after battling a brief illness. He was surrounded by his family. The exact cause of death was not immediately released by the family.

Hazel Mae is a widely recognized sports journalist who presently holds a position at Sportsnet, where she provides coverage for Toronto Blue Jays baseball matches. The individual in question possesses extensive expertise as a television anchor, having been afforded the opportunity to contribute to esteemed networks such as NESN and MLB Network, as well as several prominent sports shows and programs. Let us delve further into her personal life, including details regarding her husband, son, net worth, and other relevant aspects. Hazel Mae’s birthdate is 7 April 1970, and she was born in Tagbilaran, Philippines.

She belongs to a family of Filipino-Canadian heritage and holds citizenship in the Philippines. Limited knowledge exists on her family, as she has refrained from disclosing any details pertaining to her parents or siblings, abstaining from posting visual representations of them on her Instagram platform. The available information indicates that Hazel’s formative years were spent in Toronto.

Following her completion of secondary school in Toronto in 1988, she enrolled at York University and obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in broadcasting journalism. Additionally, she made attempts to engage in hosting duties for numerous university shows. Following her graduation, Hazel commenced her professional career as an anchor for the morning edition of the “SportsnetNews” program at Rogers Sportsnet.

This opportunity marked a promising beginning for Hazel, given that Rogers Sportsnet is a highly esteemed Canadian all-sports television network with a rich history and established traditions. In addition to her role as the host of the weekly show JZone, which encompassed comprehensive coverage of the Toronto Blue Jays, it is noteworthy that she concurrently held the position of host for JZone magazine, a publication under the ownership of Rogers Sportsnet. In 2002, Hazel, along with two other sports hosts, received an invitation to participate in a lingerie photoshoot for Urban Male Magazine. It was during this experience that Hazel developed a keen interest in the fields of fashion design and modeling.

Hazel relocated to Boston in December 2004 to assume the role of primary anchor for SportsDesk at NESN. In addition to her role as the primary anchor, she also had the responsibility of hosting the Ultimate Red Sox Show, a weekly show aired on NESN. In 2007, she further served as the host of “The Buzz” program, which featured the Boston Bruins’ ranking of the top-performing players during the season. In June 2008, Hazel resigned from NESN when she received a nomination for the presidency of the community known as “Red Sox Nation.” Nevertheless, Jerry Remy, an additional NESN anchor, secured the position, prompting Hazel to openly express her dismay.

Hazel made a formal declaration in August 2008 regarding her decision to join MLB Network, an organization affiliated with Major League Baseball, in the capacity of a reporter. While engaged in her professional endeavors inside Major League Baseball (MLB), she made notable appearances in several programs and events, including “30 Clubs in 30 Days,” “MLB Tonight,” “Quick Pitch,” and “Hot Stove.”

In 2011, the MLB network introduced a program named “The Rundown,” for which Hazel was selected as the host, alongside her colleague Matt Yaloff, a seasoned reporter and anchor. However, on September 19, 2011, Hazel made the decision to resign from her position in order to return to SportsnetNews.

On November 14, 2011, she assumed the position of anchor at Sportsnet, where she was responsible for reporting on Toronto Maple Leaf ice hockey games. Additionally, she served as the host for the nighttime edition of the program titled “Sportsnet Connected.” Hazel’s tenure as an anchor on the show concluded on July 1, 2015, as it was subsequently succeeded by the program “Tim&Sid,” helmed by her colleagues Tim Micallef and Sid Seixeiro. Subsequently, Hazel has assumed the role as a reporter covering Toronto Blue Jays matches.

News from SNBC13.com