Former D-back Patrick Corbin wears No. 45 to honor Tyler Skaggs
Jul 2, 2019, 5:06 PM | Updated: Jul 3, 2019, 7:52 am
WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 02: Starting pitcher Patrick Corbin #45 of the Washington Nationals looks on in the first inning against the Miami Marlins at Nationals Park on July 02, 2019 in Washington, DC. Corbin was wearing #45 in memory of pitcher Tyler Skaggs of the Los Angeles Angels who was found dead on July 1, 2019. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
(Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
Just over a day after learning about his former teammate’s death, former Arizona Diamondbacks starter Patrick Corbin still wanted the ball on Tuesday for his scheduled start to honor his friend.
Corbin wore the No. 45 to pay tribute to Tyler Skaggs, who was found dead in his hotel room on Monday morning.
In addition to changing up his number, Corbin wrote Skaggs’ number on the mound at the start of his outing for the Washington Nationals.
Patrick Corbin writes 45 on the mound to pay tribute to his best friend Tyler Skaggs. pic.twitter.com/tUVbZRb3mK
— Cut4 (@Cut4) July 2, 2019
Both players were drafted by the Los Angeles Angels in 2009 before being traded to the D-backs in 2010. Skaggs was later dealt to the Angels in 2013 while Corbin remained with the D-backs all the way up until last season. Corbin and Skaggs both made their MLB debuts on the D-backs in 2012.
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“It’s heartbreaking for his family and wife and entire baseball community,” D-backs manager Torey Lovullo told 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station on Burns & Gambo Tuesday.
Lovullo mentioned D-backs pitching coach Mike Butcher was torn up about it. Butcher worked with Skaggs for a short period after the young pitcher was traded to Los Angeles prior to the 2014 season.
The Angels returned to the field on Tuesday after their game on Monday was canceled.
“He was an exceptional young man with an entire life so full of promise yet to live,” Angels general manager Billy Eppler told the Associated Press of Skaggs. “For some reason, that is incomprehensible to all of us, he lives on now only in our minds and our hearts. Our team will never be the same without him. But forever we’ve been made better by him.”
“The first game back, whether today or tomorrow was going to be one of the toughest other than yesterday,” manager Brad Ausmus said.
“The game itself is going to be a refuge for players, where they can turn their minds off and concentrate on baseball,” he added. “I don’t know that sitting in a hotel room would do them any good.”
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