Autopsy: Fentanyl, oxycodone, alcohol led to Skaggs' death

The autopsy of Tyler Skaggs has uncovered that the former Los Angeles Angels pitcher had the opioids fentanyl and oxycodone in his system when he was found dead in his Texas hotel room on July 1, according to a toxicology report released by the Tarrant County medical examiner and obtained by Maria Torres and Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times.

The death of Skaggs, who also had alcohol in his system, has been ruled to be the result of "terminal aspiration of gastric contents," according to the report.

The Skaggs family issued a statement on Friday, which suggested the death may involve another Angels employee.

We are heartbroken to learn that the passing of our beloved Tyler was the result of a combination of dangerous drugs and alcohol. That is completely out of character for someone who worked so hard to become a Major League baseball player and had a very promising future in the game he loved so much.

We are grateful for the work of the detectives in the Southlake Police Department and their ongoing investigation into the circumstances surrounding Tyler’s death. We were shocked to learn that it may involve an employee of the Los Angeles Angels. We will not rest until we learn the truth about how Tyler came into possession of these narcotics, including who supplied them. To that end, we have hired attorney Rusty Hardin to assist us.

Major League Baseball's investigative unit will look into the employee.

"We were unaware of this allegation and will investigate," MLB spokesman Pat Courtney said, according to Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times.

The Southlake Police Department in Texas is investigating the death.

According to the blood tests, Skaggs had 3.8 nanograms per milliliter of fentanyl in his system as well as a blood-alcohol level of 0.122%. "The level of fentanyl is a significant amount that could produce death," Cyril Wecht, a Pittsburgh forensic pathologist told Torres and DiGiovanna. "In this case, oxycodone and alcohol were also present and would have contributed to the death because they are also central nervous system depressants."

Hardin, who has represented many athletes before Skaggs including Roger Clemens, Warren Moon, and Scottie Pippen, stated it is "way too early for us to speculate" on whether legal actions are warranted.