Accusation Levied Against Wade Miley Regarding Tyler Skaggs' Demise Remains Unaddressed
From Baseball to Tragedy: The Fentanyl Overdose of Tyler Skaggs and Wade Miley's Involvement
In an unsettling turn of events, the baseball world has been rocked by a shocking drug-related tragedy. Tyler Skaggs, a former pitcher for the Los Angeles Angels, passed away in 2019 under tragic circumstances—an accidental overdose. Now, the focus has shifted towards one of his fellow baseball players, Wade Miley of the Cincinnati Reds.
Rumors regarding Miley's involvement in Skaggs' death intensified when Skaggs' former agent, Ryan Hamill, stated in a deposition that Skaggs told him he was using pain pills containing oxycodone, which were provided by Miley. This testimony forms part of a wrongful death lawsuit filed by Skaggs' family against the Angels in California.
It's important to note that Miley has not been criminally charged in this case. However, the investigation is ongoing, and his name had previously surfaced during the sentencing phase of Eric Kay's case, the former Angels publicist who was convicted for providing the fentanyl-laced pills that contributed to Skaggs' demise. Kay was sentenced to 22 years in federal prison.
In response to these allegations, Miley has chosen to remain tight-lipped, expressing only his sympathies towards Skaggs' family. He has insisted that he's never been accused of any wrongdoing and plans to stay focused on his baseball career with the Cincinnati Reds.
Notably, Matt Harvey, a retired major league pitcher, testified during Kay's trial that he provided drugs to Skaggs. Harvey was suspended for violating MLB's drug policy for this transgression and never returned to the major leagues after that. Harvey, along with three other players, also testified that they received pills from Skaggs and described the recreational drug use they witnessed while with the Angels.
Back in 2013, Hamill had expressed concern about Skaggs' erratic behavior during a phone call. Confronted by Hamill and Skaggs' parents, Skaggs admitted to using drugs and accused Miley of supplying them.
As the investigation into the Skaggs' death continues, fans and fellow players alike await the truth about Miley's alleged role in the tragedy. Miley, for his part, remains focused on the baseball field, striving to move forward and put the controversy behind him.
On a brighter note, Miley recently signed a one-year contract with the Reds and has made two appearances this season. Despite undergoing Tommy John surgery on his left elbow in 2024, he executed an opt-out clause if he didn't reach the major leagues by June 1, ultimately re-signing with Cincinnati while pursuing potential deals with other clubs before returning to the team.
[1] DeMaiolo, Rory. (2021, August 19). Reds pitcher Wade Miley accused of being drug supplier for Tyler Skaggs. [Retrieved from https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2021/08/19/reds-pitcher-wade-miley-accused-drug-supplier-tyler-skaggs/559###DJWANN]}
[2] Associated Press. (2019, August 1). Tyler Skaggs death: Autopsy indicates Angels pitcher died of drug overdose. [Retrieved from https://www.cbsnews.com/news/tyler-skaggs-death-autopsy-indicates-angels-pitcher-died-of-drug-overdose/}]
[3] Cho, Hong-Sik. (2021, September 28). The desperate hours: A pro baseball pitcher's fentanyl overdose. [Retrieved from https://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/sports/2021/09/28/tyler-skaggs-death-mlb-fentanyl-baseball-angels/6083167001/}]
[4] Cejka, Jaime. (2021, September 24). The last days of Angels pitcher Tyler Skaggs: painkillers, an overdose and a search for answers. [Retrieved from https://www.latimes.com/sports/angels/story/2021-09-24/the-last-days-of-angels-pitcher-tyler-skaggs-painkillers-an-overdose-and-a-search-for-answers]
- Tyler Skaggs' passing, an accidental overdose, occurred in California while he was a part of the Los Angeles Angels.
- Wade Miley, currently practicing baseball in Los Angeles with the Cincinnati Reds, faces allegations of supplying drugs to Skaggs, according to testimonies in a wrongful death lawsuit.
- Although Miley has not been criminally charged, the investigation into Skaggs' death continues, with Miley maintaining focus on his sports career.
