Reds suddenly dealing with unexpected Wade Miley controversy

Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Wade Miley is at the center of an evolving story with some rather troubling accusations. Miley's name emerged as part of a recent court filing in relation to the death of former Los Angeles Angels pitcher Tyler Skaggs.

Baseball fans will remember that Skaggs sadly passed away from a drug overdose back in 2019. A legal battle involving Skaggs' family, former Angels' communications director Eric Kay, and the Angels' organization has been ongoing since 2021.

These recently released filings, however, now link Miley as someone who may have provided Skaggs with prescription drugs. According to The Athletic (subscription required), Skaggs' agent named Miley as one of the sources of Skaggs' drugs early in his career, saying, "He (Skaggs) came clean. He said he had been using — I believe it was Percocets —and he said he got them through Wade Miley.”

Reds suddenly dealing with unexpected Wade Miley controversy

The Athletic is also reporting that Miley's name came up during the criminal proceedings brought against Kay in which he was cited as an early drug source for Skaggs. Miley and Skaggs were teammates with the Arizona Diamondbacks from 2012-2013. Miley and his agent have not yet commented on the matter in question.

This is obviously the last thing that the Reds were expecting to deal with this season. Cincinnati signed Miley to a minor-league contract during the offseason despite the fact he was coming off season-ending surgery in 2024 and would not be ready for the start of the 2025 regular season.

Miley appeared in a number of rehab outings earlier this spring, and then opted out of his contract on June 1. Hunter Greene's injury, however, opened the door for the lefty's return to the organization and the Reds signed him to a one-year deal earlier this month.

Miley made his 2025 debut last week in relief, but his first start of the season came on Monday in Cleveland. Miley went five innings and allowed three runs on five hits while walking four and striking out two. He's scheduled to be back on the bump this weekend against the Detroit Tigers. It remains to be seen if these accusations will, in any way, affect Miley's standing with the Reds organization.

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