Trout, La Stella don Skaggs' 45 at All-Star Game

ByJoon Lee ESPN logo
Wednesday, July 10, 2019

CLEVELAND -- To honor their late teammate, Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout and second baseman Tommy La Stella wore pitcher Tyler Skaggs' No. 45 jersey during the All-Star Game at Progressive Field on Tuesday.

Skaggs, a California native, was found dead in his hotel room onJuly 1 in Southlake, Texas. He was 27.

Police said there is no foul play or suicide suspected in the pitcher's death, though a cause of death has yet to be released.

Trout and La Stella began discussing the idea in the days following Skaggs' death, and they received permission from Major League Baseball to switch numbers for a night.

"It was special. Obviously, felt him out there with me," Trout said after his American League squad beat the National League 4-3. "If there's any All-Star Game for me to go oh-fer, this is it -- 'cause Tyler's a pitcher. He would wanna go out there and throw some scoreless, hitless innings."

A moment of silence was held before the national anthem, and players on both teams wore black patches with Skaggs' number in white.

"This is all for him," Trout said. "Like I said, this is for -- he always wanted to be an All-Star, and tonight, he was for sure."

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