Tyler Skaggs Died Of Fatal Overdose, Family Outraged

ANAHEIM, CA —The well-known, well-liked Angels pitcher Tyler Skaggs died from a fatal blend of alcohol and opioids, according to a toxicology report released Friday. His family shared their heartbreak and their outrage that an Angels employee may have provided him with the fatal cocktail.

In July, Skaggs was found dead inside his hotel room, having choked on vomit, after ingesting a lethal cocktail of ethanol, fentanyl and oxycodone.

His death was ruled accidental, according to the toxicology report, first obtained by the Los Angeles Times.

Skaggs, 27, was not breathing when he was found in his hotel room in Southlake, Texas, where the team was staying while in town to play the Texas Rangers. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

In a statement to The Times, the Skaggs family said they are "heartbroken to learn that the passing of our beloved Tyler was the result of a combination of dangerous drugs and alcohol."

"That is completely out of character for someone who worked so hard to become a Major League baseball player and had a very promising future in the game he loved so much," according to the family. "We are grateful for the work of the detectives in the Southlake Police Department and their ongoing investigation into the circumstances surrounding Tyler's death."

"We were shocked to learn that it may involve an employee of the Los Angeles Angels," the family added without elaborating. "We will not rest until we learn the truth about how Tyler came into possession of these narcotics, including who supplied them. To that end, we have hired attorney Rusty Hardin to assist us."

The Angels Organization released a statement regarding the toxicology report and the passing of Tyler Skaggs.

"Tyler was and will always be a beloved member of the Angels family and we are deeply saddened to learn what caused this tragic death," a Los Angeles Angels spokesperson said. "Angels baseball has provided our full cooperation and assistance to the Southlake Police as they conduct their investigation."

Major League Baseball commented, saying:

“We were unaware of this allegation (against the Angels) and will investigate,” according to MLB spokesman Pat Courtney.

Hardin, the Skaggs family attorney, spoke with the Los Angeles Times, saying that the family "just wants to know what happened. That is where the family is right now. How did it happen? Was anyone else involved? They just want to get answers."

Skaggs was a native of Woodland Hills and a graduate of Santa Monica High School. He and his wife, Carli, were married in December, and they had no children.

Skaggs was one of the most popular players in the clubhouse and had been one of the Angels' most reliable pitchers this season, going 7-7 with a 4.29 ERA in 79 2/3 innings across 15 starts. He was 28-38 with a 4.41 ERA during a seven-year career that was interrupted by the Tommy John surgery in 2014 and several other injuries.

City News Service, Patch editor Ashley Ludwig contributed to this report.

This report will be updated.