Breaking: MLB Pitcher Tyler Skaggs Found Dead, Team's Game Postponed
Los Angeles Angels pitcher Tyler Skaggs was found dead Monday in a hotel room in Texas.
No cause of death was given for Skaggs, who was just 27 years old.
“It is with great sorrow that we report Tyler Skaggs passed away earlier today in Texas,” the Angels said in a statement on Twitter. “Tyler has, and always will be, an important part of the Angels Family. Our thoughts and prayers are with his entire family during this devastating time.”
Angels statement on the passing of Tyler Skaggs. pic.twitter.com/6XA2Vu1uWV
— Los Angeles Angels (@Angels) July 1, 2019
The Angels are in Arlington, Texas, at the start of this week for a three-game series against the Texas Rangers.
However, in light of this news, the Rangers decided to postpone Monday night’s scheduled game.
“The Texas Rangers organization wants to express its deepest sympathies to the family of Tyler Skaggs and to the entire Angels organization on this shocking loss,” the team said in a tweet. “The thoughts and prayers of every member of the Texas Rangers and all of their fans are with the Angels organization at this difficult time.”
Our deepest sympathies are with the family of Tyler Skaggs & the entire @Angels organization. pic.twitter.com/Xi1qNEmbRa
— Texas Rangers (@Rangers) July 1, 2019
When asked about the decision to postpone tonight’s game against the Angels, Rangers general manager Jon Daniels said, “Some things are a lot bigger than baseball,” according to WFAA-TV.
Southlake, Texas, police said in a news release that they responded to a call about an unresponsive man in a Hilton hotel room a little after 2 p.m. Central Time.
After police arrived, the man, identified as Skaggs, was pronounced dead at the scene.
“At this time, no foul play is suspected,” the news release said. “This investigation is ongoing and we will release pertinent information as it is available.”
Southlake Police Department Press Release 7/1/19 pic.twitter.com/vgZTUBIc40
— Southlake DPS (@SouthlakeDPS) July 1, 2019
The left-handed starting pitcher had been a member of the Angels since 2014 and a big league pitcher since 2012.
Skaggs went 7-7 with a 4.29 ERA in 15 starts this season and struck out 78 batters in 79.2 innings pitched.
A first-round pick in the 2009 MLB draft, he made 13 starts over parts of two seasons for the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2012 and 2013 before he was traded to LA.
Skaggs is not the first young Angels pitcher to die during his career with the team. In 2009, 22-year-old starting pitcher Nick Adenhart was killed by a drunken driver in his second MLB season.
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