ARLINGTON, Texas — Angels pitcher Tyler Skaggs was found dead in his hotel room on Monday afternoon, just hours before the club was scheduled to play a game against the Texas Rangers.
The game was canceled just as the Angels released the shocking news at around 4 p.m. central time.
MORE COVERAGE:
- Death of Tyler Skaggs is latest in long list of Angels tragedies
- Angels fans make an all-too-familiar tribute to Tyler Skaggs
- Tyler Skaggs biography – Life and baseball career of Angels pitcher
- Mike Trout, Jered Weaver react to Angels pitcher Tyler Skaggs death
- Photos: Angels pitcher Tyler Skaggs through the years
Skaggs, a product of Santa Monica High who had spent most of his 10-year professional career in the Angels organization, was 27 years old.
Skaggs was discovered in his room at the teams hotel in Southlake, which is about 20 minutes north of the ballpark in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. The Southlake police department announced that “at this time, no foul play is suspected.” The police also said suicide is not suspected.
The police responded at 2:18 p.m. to a call of an “unconscious male” in a room at the hotel. Officers arrived and Skaggs was pronounced dead at the scene, the police said.
The first of two Angels buses was prepared to leave the team hotel for the ballpark at about 3 p.m. when traveling secretary Tom Taylor boarded the bus and delivered the news. Players remained at the hotel and the few players and staff members who had come to the ballpark early returned to the hotel.
“Im in utter shock and disbelief,” General Manager Billy Eppler said in a phone interview from Southern California, as he prepared to join the team in Texas. “Its just a very tragic day for the Angels. Its a very tragic day for his wife Carli, and his mother Debbie. His father, Dan. … Its just a tragic day for everybody. This young man touched a lot of peoples lives. I think youre going to start to see the impact hes had on people in the coming days.”
The Angels Tyler Skaggs poses during photo day at Tempe Diablo Stadium IN 2016. (PHOTO BY KEVIN SULLIVAN, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Angels pitcher Tyler Skaggs poses during the annual Spring Training Photo Day at Tempe Diablo Stadium in Tempe on Thursday, Feb. 22, 2018. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan/Orange County Register/SCNG)
- SoundThe gallery will resume inseconds
Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Tyler Skaggs throws to the Oakland Athletics during a baseball game Saturday, June 29, 2019, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Los Angeles Angeles Tyler Skaggs #45 during photo day at Tempe Diablo Stadium on Tuesday, February 19, 2019 in Tempe, Arizona. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Tyler Skaggs throws to the Oakland Athletics during the first inning of a baseball game Saturday, June 29, 2019, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Tyler Skaggs looks to the dugout against the Texas Rangers at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, CA on Tuesday, April 11, 2017. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Angels pitcher Tyler Skaggs was on hand go give autographs to fans that came out for the Angels Moving Day event IN 2015. (Photo by PAUL RODRIGUEZ, Orange County REGISTER/SCNG)
Joseph Silver, 8, of Victorville gets his opportunity for an autograph from Angels pitcher Tyler Skaggs at the Angels Moving Day event in 2015. In addition to autographs, all fans received a coupon for a free ticket. (Photo by PAUL RODRIGUEZ, Orange County REGISTER/SCNG)
Tyler Skaggs poses during photo day at the Angels Spring Training facility in Tempe, AZ on Tuesday, February 21, 2017. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Tyler Skaggs poses during photo day at the Angels Spring Training facility in Tempe, AZ on Tuesday, February 21, 2017. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Tyler Skaggs throws to the plate during workouts at the Angels Spring Training facility in Tempe, AZ on Tuesday, February 21, 2017. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Pitcher Tyler Skaggs poses during the Angels Photo Day at Spring Training in Tempe, AZ on Tuesday, February 21, 2017. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Pitcher Tyler Skaggs watches from the dugout during the Angels Spring Training home-opener against the Milwaukee Brewers at Tempe Diablo Stadium in Tempe, AZ on Saturday, February 25, 2017. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Tyler Skaggs poses during photo day at the Angels Spring Training facility in Tempe, AZ on Tuesday, February 21, 2017. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Pitcher Tyler Skaggs watches from the dugout during the Angels Spring Training home-opener against the Milwaukee Brewers at Tempe Diablo Stadium in Tempe, AZ on Saturday, February 25, 2017. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Angels starting pitcher Tyler Skaggs, shown in a file photo, allowed three runs in a 19-pitch first inning on Wednesday night, be he retired 12 of the 13 batters he faced in the following four innings against the Indians. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
Los Angeles Angels pitcher Tyler Skaggs reacts after giving up a walk to Minnesota Twins C.J. Cron in the first inning of a baseball game Monday, May 13, 2019, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI – APRIL 26: Starting pitcher Tyler Skaggs #45 of the Los Angeles Angels is congratulated by teammates in the dugout after striking out Ryan OHearn #66 of the Kansas City Royals for the third out with the bases loaded during the 4th inning of the game at Kauffman Stadium on April 26, 2019 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
Los Angeles Angels pitcher Tyler Skaggs watches from the bench in the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers in Detroit, Wednesday, May 8, 2019. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Tyler Skaggs throws to the Oakland Athletics during the first inning of a baseball game Saturday, June 29, 2019, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
ANAHEIM, CA – APRIL 28: Tyler Skaggs #45 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim pitches against the Cleveland Indians in the first inning at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on April 28, 2014 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)
TORONTO, CANADA – MAY 10: Tyler Skaggs #45 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim delivers a pitch in the third inning during MLB game action against the Toronto Blue Jays on May 10, 2014 at Rogers Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)
Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Tyler Skaggs works against the Toronto Blue Jays during the eighth inning of a baseball game in Toronto on Saturday, May 10, 2014. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Chris Young)
Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Tyler Skaggs winds up during the first inning of the teams baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays in Toronto on Tuesday, June 18, 2019. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)
Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Tyler Skaggs (45) is taken out of the baseball game by manager Brad Ausmus during the eighth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday, June 18, 2019. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)
Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Tyler Skaggs throws a pitch during first inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals Sunday, June 23, 2019, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)
Los Angeles Angels Tyler Skaggs pitches to the Tampa Bay Rays during the first inning of a baseball game Thursday, June 13, 2019, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris OMeara)
Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Tyler Skaggs flips the ball to first in time to get Tampa Bay Rays Travis dArnaud out during the fifth inning of a baseball game Thursday, June 13, 2019, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris OMeara)
Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Tyler Skaggs during the second inning of a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays Thursday, June 13, 2019, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris OMeara)
Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Tyler Skaggs throws to the Oakland Athletics during the first inning of a baseball game Saturday, June 29, 2019, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Tyler Skaggs, right, talks to catcher Dustin Garneau during the fourth inning of the teams baseball game against the Oakland Athletics on Saturday, June 29, 2019, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Tyler Skaggs #45 of the Los Angeles Angels stretches during spring training at Tempe Diablo Stadium on Friday, February 22, 2019 in Tempe, Arizona. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Los Angeles Angeles Tyler Skaggs #45 during photo day at Tempe Diablo Stadium on Tuesday, February 19, 2019 in Tempe, Arizona. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Los Angeles Angeles Tyler Skaggs #45 during photo day at Tempe Diablo Stadium on Tuesday, February 19, 2019 in Tempe, Arizona. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Los Angeles Angeles Tyler Skaggs #45 during photo day at Tempe Diablo Stadium on Tuesday, February 19, 2019 in Tempe, Arizona. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Show Caption of
daily news
[contfnewc] [contfnewc]
