Angels pitcher Skaggs had opioids in system when he died: report

Los Angeles (AFP) – Los Angeles Angels pitcher Tyler Skaggs had the powerful opioids fentanyl and oxycodone as well as alcohol in his system when he was found dead in a Texas hotel room in July, the Los Angeles Times reported Friday.

The Times said a toxicology report set to be released later Friday by Tarrant County medical examiner’s office had discovered a potent cocktail of drugs in the 27-year-old’s body.

Skaggs’ cause of death was  listed as “alcohol, fentanyl and oxycodone intoxication with terminal aspiration of gastric contents,” meaning the pitcher had choked on his vomit while under the influence, the Times reported.

In a separate development on Friday, Skaggs’ family issued a statement which said police investigating the circumstances of the pitcher’s death were studying the possibility that an Angels may have been involved.

“We are heartbroken to learn that the passing of our beloved Tyler was the result of a combination of dangerous drugs and alcohol,” the Skaggs family said.

“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 are grateful for the work of the detectives in the Southlake Police Department and their ongoing investigation into the circumstances surrounding Tyler’s death. 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.”

The pitcher’s family said they had hired an attorney to help uncover the details of how Skaggs obtained the drugs in his system.

Skaggs was found dead in his hotel room on July 1 after the Angels arrived in Texas for a three-game series against the Texas Rangers. He was discovered fully clothed on his bed with no signs of trauma.

Almost 400,000 people have died from overdoses involving prescription or illicit opioids in the United States over the past two decades, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Nearly 48,000 people died in 2017 alone from opiate overdose.