Los Angeles Angels pitcher Tyler Skaggs, 27, found dead in hotel room
- No foul play is suspected as untimely death shocks Major League Baseball
- He was married to wife Carli only seven months ago and played on Saturday
Los Angeles Angels pitcher Tyler Skaggs died on Monday at the age of 27, stunning Major League Baseball and leading to the postponement of the team’s game against the Texas Rangers.
Skaggs was with the team in Texas when he was found unresponsive in his hotel room, police said. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Police said they were investigating, but no foul play was suspected.
Skaggs was “an important part of the Angels Family,” the team said in a statement. “Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Carli, and his entire family during this devastating time.”
Skaggs, who would have turned 28 on July 13 and was married just seven months ago, had been a regular in the Angels’ starting rotation since late 2016, when he returned from Tommy John surgery. He struggled with injuries repeatedly over the past three seasons but persevered to become a valuable starter in Los Angeles’ injury-plagued rotation.
The left-hander had just pitched on Saturday, allowing two runs in 4 1/3 innings in a 4-0 loss to Oakland. He was scheduled to start the series finale at Texas, on the Fourth of July holiday.
A photo of Angels players wearing cowboy hats by their plane was posted on Skaggs’ Instagram account on Sunday, with the pitcher writing “Howdy y’all” and making a reference to the team’s road trip to Texas. The Angels are scheduled to go to Houston for a three-game series this weekend after playing the Rangers.