Tyler Skaggs dead at 27: Los Angeles Angels pitcher passes away just two days after last playing

LOS ANGELES Angels baseball star Tyler Skaggs has died at the age of 27 – just two days after last playing.

The pitcher's death was confirmed by his side in a statement but the cause has not been revealed.

Shockingly, his death comes ten years after former pitcher Nick Adenhart was killed at the age of 22 while playing for the same side.

And in a sad day for sport, Skaggs' passing came after motorcycle champion Carlin Dunne died when he crashed near the finish line of an event he had won four times.

An Angels statement read: "It is with great sorrow that we report Tyler Skaggs passed away earlier today in Texas.

"Tyler has, and always will be, an important part of the Angels Family.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Carli and his entire family during this devastating time."

Skaggs, who was due to turn 28 on July 13, pitched for his side just two days ago in a clash against the Oakland A's.

Angels' match against Texas Rangers, which was due to take place in the early hours of Tuesday morning BST in Arlington, has been cancelled.

Adenhart and two friends died in April 2009 when their car was sent crashing into a telegraph pole.

'DEVASTATING TIME'

And similarly to tragic Skaggs, Adenhart was killed after being the starting pitcher in the previous night's game.

Skaggs, who had also played for the Arizona Diamondbacks, married wife Carli in 2018.

But the couple's big day was nearly ruined when parts of their venue were destroyed by the wildfires ravaging California at the time.

Skaggs' last Instagram post – published just 20 hours before his death was announced – showed him posing in cowboy gear with his team-mates ahead of their flight to Texas.

He captioned the snap: "Howdy y'all #TexasRoadTrip."

Former New York Yankee star Phil Hughes wrote an emotional Twitter tribute to Skaggs upon learning of his death.

He wrote: "I just had lunch with Tyler a couple weeks ago. We talked pitching, life. He was so excited about the season.

"Absolutely gutted. I'm sick."

MLB commissioner Rob Manfred spoke of his sorrow at Skaggs' passing.

He said in a statement: "I am deeply saddened by today's tragedy in Texas.

"All of us at Major League Baseball extend our deepest condolences to Tyler's wife Carli, their family, their friends and all of his Angels' team-mates and colleagues.

"We will support the Angels' organisation through this most difficult period, and we will make a variety of resources available to Tyler's team-mates and other members of the baseball family."

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