A coroner in Texas unveiled the results of Angels pitcher Tyler Skaggs’ autopsy on Friday, and the results didn’t provide as much closure as family and teammates would have liked.
Skaggs died from a combination of opioids and alcohol in his system, and the autopsy also reports he choked on his own vomit, likely while sleeping.
The pitcher was found dead July 1 in his Texas hotel room before the Angels played the Texas Rangers. Officials canceled that day’s game. Several emotional tributes followed, including the Angels throwing a combined no-hitter the night they honored Skaggs at Angel Stadium.
Tyler Skaggs’ autopsy: Fentanyl, oxycodone and alcohol led to death by choking on vomit https://t.co/NvJNT65rQM
— Bill Shaikin (@BillShaikin) August 30, 2019
A mysterious death
No one associated with Skaggs mentions any knowledge of his involvement with drugs. The opioids fentanyl and oxycodone are both powerful painkillers and shouldn’t be used with alcohol.
Skaggs’ blood-alcohol content at the time of his death reportedly was .122, about 50 percent higher than the legal limit of .008.
A statement from Skaggs’ family makes the death more mysterious. It mentions that another Angels employee was involved. It’s unclear whether that means distributing the drugs, persuading Skaggs to take them or something else.
“We 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.
“… We were shocked to learn that it may involve an employee of the Los Angeles Angels. 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 family of Tyler Skaggs believes that an Angels employee may have played a role in his death, which a medical examiner determined was caused by an accidental overdose of alcohol, fentanyl and oxycodone. I discuss this development in a new @SInow story: https://t.co/CIVlUPCZWN pic.twitter.com/07V0lETnKK
— Michael McCann (@McCannSportsLaw) August 30, 2019
Still trying to move on
The Angels closed their clubhouse to the media before their home game Friday. Team president Billy Eppler held a news conference to say the news surprised the team but that they were cooperating with investigators.
The Angels remember Skaggs in many ways, including patches on their jerseys and a mural on the outfield wall.
Angels general manager Billy Eppler addressed the media today after news about Tyler Skaggs was released pic.twitter.com/HoF2ZwiCkS
— FOX Sports West (@FoxSportsWest) August 31, 2019
