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Los Angeles Angels pitcher Tyler Skaggs died while on traveling with the team to Texas in 2019. The 27-year-old was found unresponsive in his hotel room. An autopsy report later confirmed that Skaggs died after taking fentanyl, oxycodone and alcohol, which led to him choking on his on vomit.
Shortly after the autopsy report was released, Tyler Skaggs’ family released a statement in which they said an Angels employee may have been involved in the pitcher’s death. The statement said the family would not rest until they learned the truth “about how Tyler came into possession” of the narcotics and “who supplied them.”
A few months later, Angels director of communications Eric Kay told U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration agents that he provided and did drugs with Skaggs. He also claimed he had told the team about Skaggs’ drug abuse “long before his death.” Two Angels officials that were named by Kay both denied knowing about Skaggs’ drug use.
Almost a year later, in August of 2020, Eric Kay was charged with distributing fentanyl in connection with the Tyler Skaggs’ death. The Los Angeles Angels again stated that they had no knowledge of Skagg’s history of opioid use. Kay would end up being sentenced to more than 20 years in prison.
Tyler Skaggs’ family files wrongful death lawsuit
Tyler Skaggs family would go on to file a wrongful death lawsuit against the Angels in June of 2021, seeking $210 million in damages. On Tuesday, Los Angeles Angels star Mike Trout took the stand in the wrongful death civil trial.
During Mike Trout’s testimony, he admitted that he was aware that Eric Kay had a drug problem, and even offered his support if Kay chose to go to drug rehabilitation. Trout said it appeared at times that Kay was “using something,” but he “just didn’t know what it was.” He also said that he “may have” heard about Kay providing someone with Viagra and that he “maybe” heard about clubhouse attendants providing marijuana to players.
Trout, who was drafted out of high school in 2009, just like Tyler Skaggs, roomed with him during their first season in the Minor Leagues and then again while playing for the Angels. On the night Skaggs died, Mike Trout said he saw Skaggs drink a couple beers before the two of them rode up the hotel elevator to their rooms. The Angels, however, claim Skaggs had been drinking heavily. Trout testified that at the time of Skaggs’ death, the thought that it may have been tied to drug use “didn’t enter” his mind.