The Cincinnati Reds find themselves unexpectedly at the center of a troubling controversy involving veteran left-handed pitcher Wade Miley. Recent court filings connected to the tragic death of former Los Angeles Angels pitcher Tyler Skaggs have named Miley as a possible source of prescription drugs that Skaggs used early in his career.
Tyler Skaggs, who died in 2019 at just 27 years old from a drug overdose, left a lasting impact on the baseball world. The heartbreaking circumstances of his passing have led to a prolonged legal battle. Since 2021, Skaggs' family has pursued a wrongful death lawsuit against the Angels organization, alleging negligence by team officials and employees who allegedly ignored signs of drug abuse within the team.
In a deposition included in recently released court documents, Skaggs’ former agent, Ryan Hamill, testified that Skaggs confided in him about his drug use as early as 2013. 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 revelation places Miley, who was a teammate of Skaggs on the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 2012 and 2013 seasons, in a difficult spotlight.
The deposition was part of hundreds of pages of testimony accidentally posted online by the California court during the week of June 2-8, 2025. These documents have since been removed, but not before stirring significant media attention. The Athletic reported that Miley’s name also surfaced during the criminal proceedings against Eric Kay, the Angels’ former communications director who is serving a 22-year prison sentence for his role in distributing drugs that led to Skaggs’ death.
In a recorded prison phone call submitted as evidence during Kay’s sentencing, Kay allegedly told his mother that Miley had been a drug source for Skaggs. Despite these serious allegations, Miley has not been charged with any crime and, through his agent, has declined to comment on the matter.
The Cincinnati Reds signed Miley to a minor-league contract during the offseason, even though he was recovering from season-ending Tommy John surgery sustained in 2024. Miley was not expected to be ready for the start of the 2025 season but made several rehab appearances in the spring. After opting out of his contract on June 1, he was quickly re-signed to a one-year major league deal following an injury to Reds starter Hunter Greene.
Miley made his 2025 season debut in relief during the first week of June and earned a win as a starter on June 9 against the Cleveland Guardians, pitching five innings while allowing three runs on five hits, walking four, and striking out two. He is scheduled to pitch again this weekend against the Detroit Tigers. So far, Miley has appeared in two games for Cincinnati, allowing seven runs on 11 hits over seven innings.
Before joining the Reds, Miley’s career included stints with several teams. He began with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2011, later playing for the Boston Red Sox, Seattle Mariners, Baltimore Orioles, Milwaukee Brewers, Houston Astros, Chicago Cubs, and then returning to the Brewers before signing with Cincinnati. Notably, Miley was part of the Brewers’ run to the National League Championship Series in 2018 and posted a solid 3.14 ERA in 120 innings for Milwaukee in 2023 before undergoing surgery in 2024.
The Skaggs family’s lawsuit, filed in 2021, seeks $210 million in damages and accuses the Angels of failing to address the drug abuse problem within the organization. The Angels have moved for summary judgment to dismiss the claims, arguing that Skaggs’ repeated drug use and solicitation over nearly a decade make him responsible for his own death. The defense points to text messages showing Skaggs purchasing pills from teammates and acting as a liaison for drug distribution within the team.
Among the most revealing elements of the case are testimonies from Eric Kay’s ex-wife, Camela Kay, who described her husband’s drug abuse and interactions with Angels officials. She testified about interventions and concerns communicated to team executives, as well as incidents of erratic behavior by Kay leading up to Skaggs’ death. Despite these concerns, the Angels’ leadership maintains they were unaware of Skaggs’ opioid use prior to his passing.
Meanwhile, the Reds organization has not publicly addressed the allegations involving Miley. Given that Miley has not been charged with any wrongdoing, the situation remains delicate. The timing of these revelations, coming as Miley returns to the mound after surgery and a minor league contract, presents a complex challenge for the Reds during the 2025 season.
Baseball fans and analysts alike are watching closely to see how this controversy will unfold and whether it will impact Miley’s role with the team. The Reds have a history of supporting their players through adversity, but the seriousness of the allegations against Miley adds a difficult dimension to their current campaign.
As the legal proceedings continue, the broader baseball community is reminded of the ongoing struggles with substance abuse that have affected players and organizations alike. Tyler Skaggs’ tragic death remains a somber chapter in MLB history, and the pursuit of justice by his family underscores the importance of accountability and player welfare.
For now, Wade Miley remains an active member of the Cincinnati Reds pitching staff, scheduled to take the mound again soon. Whether the allegations will have lasting repercussions for his career or the Reds’ season is yet to be seen, but the story is far from over.
