What was Tyler Skaggs cause of death?
FORMER MLB pitcher Tyler Skaggs tragically passed away in 2019 at the age of 27. Skaggs was drafted in the first round by the Los Angeles Angles in the 2009 MLB Draft. Skaggs, 27, was a left-handed starting pitcher in the MLB, who played for the Arizona Diamondback and the LA Angels of Anaheim. After being traded to the Diamondbacks in 2010, the 27-year-old made his major league debut in 2012 against the Miami Marlins. In 2013, he was traded back to the Angels, where he spent the rest of his career. Throughout his career, Skaggs posted an earned run average of 4.41, recorded 476 strikeouts and had a win-loss record of 2838. On July 1, 2019, Skaggs was found dead in his hotel room in Southlake, Texas, where the Angels were visiting for a series against the Texas Rangers. An autopsy concluded that Skaggs died of asphyxia after he choked on his own vomit while under the influence of fentanyl, oxycodone and alcohol. The 27-year-olds death was officially ruled an accident. In October 2019, former Angels employee Eric Kay admitted to US Drug Enforcement Administration agents he regularly purchased drugs for Skaggs. Kay also told DEA agents that he had provided oxycodone for five other players at Skaggs' request. 5 On July 1, 2019, Tyler Skaggs was found dead in his hotel room in Texas Credit: USA TODAY Sports  However, no other players have been publicly identified. The Angels wore No. 45 patches on their jerseys for the remainder of the 2019 season to honor Skaggs' memory. On June 29, 2021, it was reported that the Skaggs family sued the LA Angles and two former employees over the death of the former MLB pitcher. Skaggs' widow, Carli Miles, launched a lawsuit in Los Angeles, as the former pitcher's parents -Darrell and Debbie - filed a second suit in Texas. The lawsuit reads: "The Angels owed Tyler Skaggs a duty to provide a safe place to work and play baseball." 5 Tyler Skaggs and his wife Carli Credit: Refer to Caption  It also names ex Angels director of communications Kay and vice president of communications Tim Mead as defendants. The suit adds: "The Angels breached their duty when they allowed Kay, a drug addict, complete access to Tyler." No specific damages are listed, but the suit alleges: "The Angels also breached their duty when they allowed Kay to provide Tyler with dangerous illegal drugs. "The Angels should have known Kay was dealing drugs to players. Tyler died as a result of the Angels breach of their duties.  In August 2020, after a joint investigation by Southlake police and the DEA, Kay was arrested and charged in the US District Court in Fort Worth. 5 Skaggs' family and his wife Carli Miles launched two lawsuits against the Los Angeles Angels over the death of the former MLB pitcher Credit: EPA  Kay was charged with providing counterfeit oxycodone pills laced with fentanyl to Skaggs that resulted in his death and conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute a substance containing fentanyl since at least 2017. Kay, who pleaded not guilty, is scheduled for trial in August 2021. He is the only person known to have been charged in connection with Skaggs' death.