The world of Major League Baseball has been rocked once again as new details emerge in the tragic case of Tyler Skaggs, the late Los Angeles Angels pitcher who died from a drug overdose in 2019. Recent revelations have brought Cincinnati Reds pitcher Wade Miley into the spotlight, with allegations suggesting he may have been a source of prescription drugs for Skaggs during their time as teammates. This startling development adds a complex layer to an already heart-wrenching story that continues to reverberate through the baseball community.
Tyler Skaggs was only 27 when he passed away in July 2019, during a road trip to play the Texas Rangers. His death was officially ruled as a drug overdose, a tragedy that not only shocked fans but also raised serious questions about drug use and distribution within professional sports. Now, over five years later, the civil lawsuit filed by Skaggs's family against the Angels is shedding new light on the circumstances surrounding his untimely passing.
Central to these revelations is Ryan Hamill, Skaggs's former agent, who has provided damning testimony in a deposition that was recently made public. According to Hamill, Skaggs had been abusing prescription drugs since at least 2013, and crucially, he admitted to obtaining Percocet through Wade Miley. Hamill stated, "He came clean. He said he had been using -- I believe it was Percocets -- and he said he got them through Wade Miley." This confession, made years before Skaggs's death, highlights a longstanding struggle with substance abuse that sadly culminated in tragedy.
Wade Miley, now 38, was a teammate of Skaggs with the Arizona Diamondbacks during the 2013 season. Although Miley's name had surfaced previously during the criminal proceedings against Eric Kay, the Angels' former communications director who was convicted and sentenced to 22 years in prison for drug distribution related to Skaggs's death, Miley himself has never faced any criminal charges. The criminal case against Kay revealed a disturbing network of drug distribution within the Angels organization, but Miley's involvement has remained a civil matter, with no formal charges brought against him.
In the latest developments, Miley signed a minor league contract with the Cincinnati Reds earlier this year after recovering from ulnar collateral ligament surgery that sidelined him since April 2024. Following an injury to Reds' starter Hunter Greene, Miley was promoted back to the major league roster and has appeared in two games. Notably, he earned a win in a 7-4 victory over the Cleveland Guardians on June 9, 2025, pitching five innings while allowing three runs on five hits and four walks. Despite some struggles, Miley's career has been marked by resilience and a long tenure in Major League Baseball, having played for multiple teams since his debut with the Diamondbacks in 2011.
The civil lawsuit filed by the Skaggs family seeks $210 million in damages, accusing high-level Angels officials of knowing about Eric Kay's drug use and failing to intervene, thereby enabling the environment that led to Skaggs's death. The Angels have responded by filing a motion seeking summary judgment, aiming to dismiss the claims. The deposition of Ryan Hamill, along with hundreds of pages of other testimony, was inadvertently posted on the California court's online portal earlier this month, bringing these sensitive details to public attention.
The revelations have sparked a broader conversation about the prevalence of prescription drug abuse in professional sports and the responsibilities of teams to protect their players. While Wade Miley has declined to comment on the allegations through his agent, the situation underscores the urgent need for stronger safeguards and support systems for athletes grappling with substance abuse.
Tyler Skaggs's legacy is a somber reminder of the hidden struggles many athletes face behind the scenes. His story calls for a renewed commitment from baseball organizations to prioritize player health and safety, ensuring that tragedies like his are prevented in the future. As the civil case unfolds, it continues to challenge the sport to confront uncomfortable truths and foster a culture of accountability and care.
For now, the baseball world watches closely as this complex and evolving story develops, with many hoping that the lessons learned from Skaggs's tragedy will lead to meaningful change in how the sport addresses substance abuse and player welfare.
