In Memory of Tyler Skaggs: Always and Forever an Angel

The life of an athlete comes with the opportunity to chase glory and experience moments that the vast majority of the world would never get to touch. The glamour of the athletic life makes it seem as if some of lifes greatest moments happen on the field. Some of the most memorable moments in our own lives, as fans, can come from the accomplishments of our favorite athletes and teams.

One of the two greatest moments in Tyler Skaggs life came not on the field, but in his personal life. On November 9, 2017, Tyler Skaggs proposed to his then girlfriend Carli Mills while on vacation in Bora Bora. The two would often post about each other on their social media pages, many of these posts gushing about the vibrant love shared between the two. At the age of 26 Tyler Wayne Skaggs was engaged to be married to the love of his life and things couldn’t seem any more perfect. Following his engagement he went on to have the best season of his career and a year later, on New Years Eve of 2018, the two were wed in a ceremony that saw many teammates, both current and former, attend to celebrate the momentous occasion in the life of our young Angel.

Tyler Skaggs life was a life lived with love. From his love of the sport, to the love of his friends, family and teammates, to the ultimate love between him and his wife Carli; each moment of Skaggs life seemed to radiate with love and blinding positivity. From watching the inside-the-clubhouse videos of Tyler Skaggs interacting with his teammates all of us fans could see how much people loved being around him. Constantly would we see his infectious energy spread to his teammates as he danced and joked in the dugout during games. It always seemed like Skaggs lived every moment to its absolute fullest. Tyler Skaggs understood the beauty of life, he understood how precious life can be, and because of that he radiated love and joy for all around him to feel.

There are many lessons to be learned from the life that Tyler Skaggs lived, lessons that he would want you to carry forward in life and use to make yourself the best version of yourself that you can be. Be that person who fills a room with joyful energy when you walk in, be that person who wants to light everyones face up with smiles. Be the person who brings light into this world, no matter how big or small. Be the person who lives not just for the benefit of yourself, but the benefit of all around you. Even from watching on the television or reading stories from his teammates, friends, and family you could always tell Tyler Skaggs was the kind of person who liked making others happy because it made him happy. That’s the mark of a person who is larger than life, one who seeks to make life a greater experience for all others sharing in it’s existence.

Tyler Wayne Skaggs lived a beautiful life, because he lived a life where everyone was his friend. He lived a life where everyone was someone he could share his love and enthusiasm with. Tyler was deeply active in community efforts; so much of his time outside of baseball was spend giving back to everyone around him. He spent much of his time attending events for children and visiting the sick of all ages in hospitals around the country. Tyler Skaggs gave as much of himself as he could to everyone around him and to the game of baseball itself, that right there is the mark of a rare human being, one who is giving every bit of himself to those around him while also finding strength in those same people he gives to. The more he gave to others the greater the light of the world around him became, and the brighter that light around him grew so too did his own light grow brighter and brighter.

That is the most beautiful way any person could live their life; spreading love and goodness everywhere you go. That is kind of life that Los Angeles Angels pitcher Tyler Skaggs lived, a life that his parents Debbie and Darrell Skaggs could only have dreamed of on that magical day back on July 13th, 1991.

Tyler Wayne Skaggs; an Angel at birth, an Angel in life, and an Angel for eternity.

1991-2019