Los Angeles employee was sentenced to 22 years in federal prison on Tuesday for providing the team’s former pitcher Tyler Skaggs the drugs.

Tyler Skaggs : Drugs | Death | overdose | How did die

Tyler Wayne Skaggs was an American left-handed professional baseball starting pitcher who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Arizona Diamondbacks and Los Angeles Angels from 2012 until his death in 2019.

Tyler Skaggs : Drugs | Death | overdose | How did die

Baseball  Pitcher
Born: July 13, 1991
              Woodland Hills, California, U.S.                
Died: July 1, 2019 (aged 27)
Southlake, Texas, U.S.
Batted: Left
Threw: Left

Also a native of Woodland Hills, California, and a graduate of Santa Monica High School, Skaggs was a supplemental first-round selection for the Angels in the 2009 Major League Baseball draft.

He was traded to the Diamondbacks the following year as part of an exchange for pitcher Dan Haren and rose through Arizona’s farm system.

Tyler Skaggs drugs 

Tyler Skaggs liked to post on Instagram. His last post, on Sunday, was a photo of the Los Angeles Angels, the team for which he was a pitcher — smiling, healthy, young and strong in cowboy hats and boots — outside their jet after they arrived to play the Texas Rangers this week in Arlington, Texas.

Tyler Skaggs : Drugs | Death | overdose | How did die

Skaggs was pronounced dead in his hotel room in the Dallas suburb of Southlake on Monday, 12 days before his 28th birthday, authorities said.

No cause of death was made public, and authorities said neither foul play nor suicide was suspected.

The Angels’ scheduled game Monday against the Rangers was postponed. Because a memorial sign was raised outside the Angels’ stadium in Anaheim, California, as fans gathered to mourn, leaving behind tributes of flowers and stuffed animals.

Death 

Los Angeles Angels pitcher Tyler Skaggs, married in the off-season and only 12 days short of his 28th birthday, died Monday at the team hotel in Southlake, and the opener of a four-game series between the Angels and Texas Rangers was postponed.

Both clubs and MLB provided input on the best course of action after learning of Skaggs’ death. Players and personnel from both teams left shortly after the decision to postpone.

Tyler Skaggs : Drugs | Death | overdose | How did die

So Only Rangers general manager Jon Daniels and manager Chris Woodward addressed the media. Angels center fielder Mike Trout, the game’s best player spoke on behalf of his teammate on Twitter.

“Words cannot express the deep sadness we feel right now,” Trout said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with [Skaggs’ wife] Carli and their families. Remembering him as a great teammate, friend and person who will remain in our hearts forever. We love you, 45.”

Tyler Skaggs overdose 

A former Los Angeles Angels employee was sentenced to 22 years in federal prison on Tuesday for providing the team’s former pitcher Tyler Skaggs the drugs that led to his overdose death in Texas.

Eric Kay, dressed in an orange jumpsuit with handcuffs and leg shackles, didn’t react when the judge read his sentence. Kay faced at least 20 years in prison on one of the two counts.

Tyler Skaggs : Drugs | Death | overdose | How did die

There was no reaction from Skaggs’ widow and mother, or members of Kay’s family, including one of his sons who testified on his behalf before sentencing.

Prosecutors presented evidence of Kay, 48, making derogatory comments about Skaggs, his family, prosecutors and jurors in phone calls and emails after he was convicted in February.

And there was emotional testimony from both sides in federal court in Fort Worth, about 15 miles from where the Angels were supposed to open a four-game series against the Texas Rangers on 1 July 2019, the day Skaggs was found dead in a suburban Dallas hotel room.

Kay was convicted on one count each of drug distribution resulting in death and drug conspiracy.

But A coroner’s report said Skaggs, 27, had choked to death on his vomit and that a toxic mix of alcohol, fentanyl and oxycodone was in his system.

How did die 

The 27-year-old pitcher was found dead in his hotel room in Southlake, Texas on July 1, 2019 with traces of fentanyl, oxycodone, and alcohol in his system.

Kay was accused of obtaining oxycodone pills laced with fentanyl and distributing them to players.

Tyler Skaggs : Drugs | Death | overdose | How did die

Also the trial included testimonies from current and former MLB players who said they had received opioid pills from him.

But these players included Matt Harvey, C.J. Cron, Mike Morin, and Cam Bedrosian. According to testimony and court documents, Kay also used the drugs himself. 

Also reported that Judge Terry Means said he was “dreading” the sentence for Kay, because he thought the 20-year minimum was excessive.

By Rishabh

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *