Angels LHP Tyler Skaggs dies


Reuters | Texas | Updated: 02-07-2019 03:36 IST | Created: 02-07-2019 03:35 IST
Angels LHP Tyler Skaggs dies
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The Los Angeles Angels announced the death of pitcher Tyler Skaggs on Monday. The seven-year veteran would have been 28 on July 13. The Los Angeles Times reported that the Southlake (Texas) Police Department found Skaggs unresponsive in his hotel room. The department released the following statement to the Times.

" at 2:18 p.m. CDT the Southlake Police Department responded to a call of an unconscious male in a room in the Hilton hotel at 1400 Plaza Place. Officers arrived and found the male unresponsive, and he was pronounced deceased at the scene." A police spokesman told the Times that no foul play is suspected.

The team, which was in Arlington, Texas, for the beginning of a seven-game road trip versus the Texas Rangers and Houston Astros, also announced that Monday night's game against Texas was postponed and would be made up at later date. The Angels revealed Skaggs' death a short time later.

"It is with great sorrow that we report Tyler Skaggs passed away earlier today in Texas," said the Angels in a statement on social media. "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."

MLB Commissioner Robert D. Manfred, Jr., also issued a statement expressing his condolences: "I am deeply saddened by today's tragedy in Texas. 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. 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."

The Rangers were stunned by the news. "It's one of those moments where you're just numb to life," Texas manager Chris Woodward told reporters. "Personally, I heard just tremendous things about him. Just a really sad situation, obviously. Our hearts go out, and we're thinking about him, about his family. It's important that we all kind of, obviously keep him in our thoughts and prayers, but also have just the perspective how fragile life is. Just really sad."

Skaggs, who grew up in Santa Monica, Calif., was drafted in the first round (40th overall) by the Angels in the 2009 draft. He reached the big leagues in 2012 and spent two seasons with the Arizona Diamondbacks before rejoining the Angels in 2014. In seven seasons, he garnered a 28-38 record in 96 starts with a 4.41 ERA. In 15 starts during the 2019 season, he was 7-7 with a 4.29 ERA.

When MLB contacted the Rangers to get their thoughts on postponing the game, general manager Jon Daniels agreed. "We certainly wouldn't want to play if we're ever in that situation," Daniels told reporters. "So that was our first thought ... whatever the Angels need at this point, that takes priority."

"This isn't something that we deal with on a daily basis," Woodward said. "It actually happens far too often I feel like. There's been a few tragedies obviously recently, and it's heartbreaking. And you could tell that our guys were pretty upset."

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

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