Tyler Skaggs, a left-handed pitcher with the Los Angeles Angels, has died. He was 27.
The Angels announced the death in a tweet on Monday afternoon.
“It is with great sorrow that we report Tyler Skaggs passed away earlier today in Texas,” a statement said. “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.”
Southlake Police Department said they responded to a call on Monday afternoon of an unconscious male, later identified as Skaggs, at a Hilton hotel. They discovered him unresponsive and he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police said no foul play is suspected and an investigation is ongoing.
Skaggs last started on Saturday at home against the Oakland Athletics. He was drafted by Los Angeles in the 2009 MLB Draft, but broke into the league with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2012.
The Woodland Hills, Calif., native played 13 games over two seasons for Arizona before being traded along with Hector Santiago to the Angels in December 2013 for slugger Mark Trumbo.
Skaggs developed into a dependable starter for Los Angeles over the following five years and had his best season in 2018 when he logged 125.1 innings over 24 starts. He finished the year 8-10 with a 4.02 earned-run average.
None of the Angels players spoke to reporters Monday, but centre fielder Mike Trout took to Twitter to issue a tribute to his teammate.
A fan with an Angels jersey sat on a rock wall near the hotel entrance with a bouquet of flowers attached to a balloon that read “thank you.”
Monday’s game between Los Angeles and the Texas Rangers was cancelled as a result of the death and will be made up at a later date.
Rangers manager Chris Woodward along with general manager Jon Daniels broke the news to their players before dismissing them.
“There were a lot of pretty emotional guys in there,” Woodward said. “Some guys that didn’t even know him were visibly shaken.”
MLB commissioner Robert Manfred said he was deeply saddened by the tragedy.
“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,” Manfred said in a statement. “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.”
Skaggs was active on social media and posted an Instagram on Sunday of the Angels wearing cowboy hats in front of an airplane with the caption “Howdy y’all.”
It’s not the first time Los Angeles has lost an active player. Just shortly after the 2009 MLB season started, right-handed pitcher Nick Adenhart was killed by a drunk driver on April 9.
He was also active in the community and supported several high schools and non-profit organizations while also volunteering time to visit children at hospitals.
Skaggs was a multi-sport athlete growing up and played baseball, football and basketball at Santa Monica High School in California.
— with files from The Associated Press.
