Los Angeles Angels Pitcher Tyler Skaggs Passes Away

Posted on July 1, 2019, by Bryan Zarpentine

Tragedy struck Major League Baseball on Monday. The Los Angeles Angels have announced that starting pitcher Tyler Skaggs has passed away. He was 27 years old. The team did not release any other details about his death, only that he passed away Monday in Texas, where the Angels were set to begin a series with the Rangers. Monday’s game between the Angels and Rangers was postponed.

“It is with great sorrow that we report Tyler Skaggs passed away earlier today in Texas,” the Angels said in a statement. “Tyler has, and always will be, an important part of the Angels Family. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Carli, and his entire family during this devastating time. There are no other details at this time, please keep Tyler’s family in your thoughts and prayers.”

All that we know at this time is that police responded Monday to reports of an unconscious man at a hotel in Southlake, Texas. The investigation is ongoing, but foul play is not suspected at this time.

“All of us at Major League Baseball extend our deepest condolences to Tyler’s wife Carli, their family, their friends and all of his Angels’ teammates and colleagues,” MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement. “We will support the Angels’ organization through this most difficult period, and we will make a variety of resources available to Tyler’s teammates and other members of the baseball family.”

Skaggs passed away less than 48 hours after he took the mound for what was his last major league start. The lefty pitched Saturday at home against the Oakland A’s. He made 15 starts this season, going 7-7 with a 4.29 ERA.

This was Skaggs’ seventh season in the majors. A native of Southern California, he was drafted by the Angels with the 40th overall pick in the 2009 MLB Draft. He was traded to the Diamondbacks in the summer of 2010 and made his big league debut with Arizona in 2012. Skaggs was traded back to the Angels following the 2013 season and ended up spending the rest of his career with them.

Skaggs made 96 starts in his big league career. He was 28-38 with a 4.41 ERA in those 96 starts. Despite battling several injuries, including Tommy John surgery that kept him out for all of 2015, Skaggs put together a solid career. He was considered one of the most likable players in the Angels clubhouse and a leader on the pitching staff.

“The fraternity of players is stunned and saddened today by the untimely death of Tyler Skaggs,” MLB Players Association executive director Tony Clark in a statement. “We extend our deepest sympathies to Tyler’s wife, Carli, and the rest of his family, teammates, and friends.”