OC Register: Heavy-hearted Angels return to field after Tyler Skaggs’ death

[AngelsWin.com]

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  Angels players listen during a press conference held to address the death of pitcher Tyler Skaggs before Tuesday’s game at Globe Life Park in Arlington, Texas. Skaggs was found unresponsive in his hotel room hours before Monday’s game, which was postponed. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

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  Los Angeles Angels manager Brad Ausmus, left, listens as general manager Billy Eppler responds to questions during a news conference about the passing of Tyler Skaggs, before a baseball game against the Texas Rangers in Arlington, Texas, Tuesday, July 2, 2019. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

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  The jersey of the late Tyler Skaggs hangs on the wall during a news conference with team management and ownership before a baseball game against the Texas Rangers in Arlington, Texas, Tuesday, July 2, 2019. Skaggs passed away on Monday in Southlake, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

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  Los Angeles Angels manager Brad Ausmus pauses as he responds to a question about Tyler Skaggs during a news conference before a baseball game against the Texas Rangers in Arlington, Texas, Tuesday, July 2, 2019. Skaggs died Monday, when the 27-year-old pitcher was found unresponsive in his Texas hotel room. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

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  Los Angeles Angels general manager Billy Eppler, left, listens as team owner Arte Moreno makes comments at the start of a news conference regarding the death of Tyler Skaggs, before a baseball game against the Texas Rangers in Arlington, Texas, Tuesday, July 2, 2019. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

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  Angels center fielder Mike Trout listens during a press conference held to address the death of pitcher Tyler Skaggs before Tuesday’s game at Globe Life Park in Arlington, Texas. Skaggs was found dead in his hotel room hours before Monday’s game, which was postponed. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

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  From left, Los Angeles Angels manager Brad Ausmus and general manager Billy Eppler listen as team owner Arte Moreno responds to questions during a news conference regarding the death of Tyler Skaggs before a baseball game against the Texas Rangers in Arlington, Texas, Tuesday, July 2, 2019. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

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  ARLINGTON, TEXAS – JULY 02: Manager Brad Ausmus #12 of the Los Angeles Angels reacts during a press conference held to address the death of pitcher Tyler Skaggs at Globe Life Park in Arlington on July 02, 2019 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

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  Los Angeles Angels players and staff listen as a news conference is underway regarding the death of Tyler Skaggs before a baseball game against the Texas Rangers in Arlington, Texas, Tuesday, July 2, 2019. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

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  ARLINGTON, TEXAS – JULY 02: Team President John Carpino talks with the media during a press conference held to address the death of pitcher Tyler Skaggs at Globe Life Park in Arlington on July 02, 2019 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

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  Los Angeles Angels manager Brad Ausmus wipes tears from his eyes as he responds to questions during a news conference about the passing of Tyler Skaggs, before a baseball game against the Texas Rangers in Arlington, Texas, Tuesday, July 2, 2019. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

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  ARLINGTON, TEXAS – JULY 02: Manager Brad Ausmus #12 of the Los Angeles Angels reacts during a press conference held to address the death of pitcher Tyler Skaggs at Globe Life Park in Arlington on July 02, 2019 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

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  Los Angeles Angels manager Brad Ausmus, from left, general manager Billy Eppler, team owner Arte Moreno and team president John Carpino participate in a news conference regarding the death of Tyler Skaggs before a baseball game against the Texas Rangers in Arlington, Texas, Tuesday, July 2, 2019. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

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  Los Angeles Angels manager Brad Ausmus, from left seated at table, general manager Billy Eppler and team owner Arte Moreno listen as team president John Carpino responds to questions during a news conference regarding the passing of Tyler Skaggs, before a baseball game against the Texas Rangers in Arlington, Texas, Tuesday, July 2, 2019. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

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  Angels manager Brad Ausmus wipes tears from his eyes as he responds to questions during a news conference about the passing of pitcher Tyler Skaggs, before Tuesday’s game against the Texas Rangers in Arlington, Texas. Skaggs was found unresponsive in his hotel room hours before Monday’s game, which was postponed. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

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ARLINGTON, Texas — Just about 24 hours after the stunning news that Tyler Skaggs had died, the Angels were back at Globe Life Park trying to move on without him.

General Manager Billy Eppler said he had consulted with several players to determine when was the right time to resume the schedule, and they decided that Tuesday night was the right time.

“It felt that, one, it was what Tyler would want,” Eppler said, “and also that it’s a time to allow them to get back into a routine and to have a period of time where they feel disconnected. A lot of problems go away when the first pitch is thrown until the last pitch is thrown. These guys will be there fighting for each other, with Tyler weighing heavy on their hearts tonight. I’ll tell you that.”

Eppler, Manager Brad Ausmus, owner Arte Moreno and team president John Carpino spoke in front of a packed interview room on Tuesday afternoon, with Skaggs’ jerseys hanging behind them, as they addressed the stunning loss of one of their most beloved players.

“Tyler brought joy to everybody around him,” Eppler said. “He was magnetic. People were drawn to him. He was generous and kind and our team will never be the same without him, but forever we’ve been made better by him. We are truly grateful to have the honor to watch him grow and develop over the years. Grief is personal to all of us. It doesn’t have a timeline. It doesn’t have a roadmap. What is more important is we’ll all be here for each other, as a team, as an organization, and as a family.”

Most of the Angels players sat on the side of the room, some with hoodies pulled over their heads and eyes moist. All-Star center fielder Mike Trout sat in a second row of seats against the wall, at times with his head down, like many of his teammates around him. They chose as a group not to speak to the media yet.

Ausmus said returning to the ballpark for a game was the right thing to do, though.

“The first day back, whether it was today or tomorrow was going to be one of the toughest, other than yesterday,” Ausmus said. “The game itself can be a refuge for the players where they can turn their minds off and focus on baseball. I don’t know that sitting in a hotel room would do them any good.”

Hours before the game, pitchers were on the field stretching. Félix Peña threw a bullpen session. Much of the rest of the team had a normal batting practice session.

They were attempting to move on from the tragedy, including the step of switching to a different hotel than the one in which Skaggs was found in his room on Monday afternoon.

There are still no answers as to exactly what happened to the 27-year-old, a Santa Monica High graduate who spent most of his 10-year professional career in the Angels organization.

The Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s office was scheduled to perform an autopsy on Tuesday afternoon, results of which could take months to be revealed.

The Southlake, Texas, police department announced on Monday that foul play had been ruled out. Police later added that suicide “does not appear” to be the cause.

A police spokesman said Tuesday morning that results of their investigation would not be available for four to six weeks.

After the news of Skaggs’ death hit the team on Monday, players and staff gathered to support each other.

“The team all got together a couple times,” Ausmus said. “Some of the guys spoke, but I think most importantly, in the end, we were able to talk about Tyler and laugh about some of the stories, some of the goofy things he did. Listen to some of his music. It was good.”

At the ballpark, the Angels were set to play the game with a 24-man roster. Players wore patches with the No. 45. Other remembrances at Angel Stadium have yet to be determined.

In another ballpark more than 1,000 miles away in Washington, Patrick Corbin was scheduled to start for the Nationals, wearing No. 45 instead of his No. 46. Corbin and Skaggs were drafted by the Angels in 2009, then traded together to the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2010.

Although Corbin remained with Arizona when Skaggs was traded back to the Angels in 2013, Skaggs remained Corbin’s “best friend,” Nationals manager Dave Martinez told reporters.

“He was emotional earlier,” Martinez said. “But he wants to pitch. He feels that’s what he needs to do.”

It’s unclear so far how well the Angels will be able to move on. Ausmus said he’d already been contacted by other managers who have been through similar situations.

“To a man, it’s the same advice, and that’s that there’s no handbook for this,” Ausmus said. “You’ve got to go with your honest feelings. If you do that, then you’re not going to be wrong.”

Ausmus had a little experience with tragedy from his playing days. He was a teammate of Darryl Kile with the Houston Astros earlier in their careers. Kile had moved on to the St. Louis Cardinals when he suddenly died during the 2002 season, but it still hit Ausmus hard.

“This feels identical,” Ausmus said, his voice cracking. “It really does. I don’t have to go on the field, but it’s very similar. Once the game starts, it’s actually a refuge, because it takes your mind off it, distracts you for a little while. When you go back to your hotel room, you’re reminded of reality. But it helped me get away. It’s hard. Today is one of the hardest days. I know it gets easier, but it’s difficult.”

The Angels, of course, had to persevere through a tragedy like this in 2009, when rookie pitcher Nick Adenhart was killed by a drunk driver in April.

Moreno, the owner then and now, said he had “the same feeling.”

“You can’t believe it,” Moreno said. “You keep thinking that someone is there, and they’re not. The team is such a family. You take a piece out from the family, and there’s always a hole.”

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