Tyler Skaggs
Los Angeles Angels pitcher Tyler Skaggs was found dead July 1st in his hotel room at the Southlake Hilton, where the team was staying during the series against the Texas Rangers. The tragic news of the 27-year-old lefty’s death rocked the baseball world, and also left a ton of questions. Unforentunely, some of the answers following his death have not only exposed the issues of opioids in professional sports but also the possibility the Angels executives knew of Skagg’s problems. The DEA’s report on the overdose—which involved oxycodone—exploited a possible dust-off by the Angels, with one longtime employee detailing how he would get the drugs for Skaggs…and other players. While the Angels have recently made news with the hiring of ex-Cubs skipper, Joe Maddon, and a huge land acquisition in the adjacent area surrounding the ballpark, none of it will overshadow the pending legal case from the Skagg’s death and continued unanswered questions.