DETROIT -- In a recent development following the emergence of his name in a report concerning a lawsuit filed by the family of the late Angels pitcher Tyler Skaggs, Reds starting pitcher Wade Miley addressed the situation briefly on Friday. The Athletic reported that the Angels have sought a summary judgment to dismiss the lawsuit brought by Skaggs' family. This legal move included a deposition from Skaggs' former agent, Ryan Hamill, who claimed that Skaggs received prescription drugs from Miley during their time as teammates on the Diamondbacks.
Expressing his sympathy, Miley stated, “I hate what happened to Tyler, it sucks. My thoughts are with his family and his friends.” He added, “But I’m not going to sit here and talk about things that someone might have said about me or whatnot. I was never a witness for any of this. I was never accused of any wrongdoing.” This statement reflects Miley's intention to distance himself from the ongoing legal situation surrounding the tragic circumstances of Skaggs' death.
Tyler Skaggs tragically passed away in his Dallas-area hotel room on July 1, 2019, at the young age of 27. An autopsy revealed the presence of fentanyl, oxycodone, and alcohol in his system, leading to an overdose. The former Angels communications director, Eric Kay, is currently serving a 22-year prison sentence after being convicted on two counts for providing the drugs that contributed to Skaggs' untimely death. Notably, prosecutors presented a recorded prison phone call during Kay's criminal proceedings where he allegedly mentioned Miley as a source of drugs for Skaggs.
Wade Miley, a seasoned pitcher in his 15th season in Major League Baseball, signed a Minor League contract with the Reds in February. After exercising his opt-out clause on June 1, Miley returned to the team on June 4 due to an injury to Hunter Greene, signing a one-year, $2.5 million prorated major league deal. He made his season debut on the same day and secured his first victory on June 9 after throwing five innings in relief.
Looking ahead, Miley is set to pitch against the Tigers on Sunday. When reporters inquired whether the ongoing lawsuit would serve as a distraction, he firmly stated, “No, I’m going to get my work done and try to help the Cincinnati Reds. I’d rather just focus on the Cincinnati Reds right now and baseball and what I have to do moving forward. I’ve got to get ready for a game on Sunday.” This commitment to his team and the game emphasizes Miley's focus amidst the surrounding controversy.
