Angels Face Scrutiny โคas Tyler Skaggsโ Drug Death โขCaseโ Opens with Explosive Allegations
FULLERTON, CA – A civil trial โbegan this week in Fullerton, California, allegingโฃ the losโฃ Angeles Angels enabled a dangerous drug culture that contributed to the 2019 death of pitcher tyler Skaggs. The lawsuitโค claims the team was aware of,and complicit in,the distribution of opioids to players.
Skaggs, 27, was found dead in his hotel room inโค Southlake, Texas, before a gameโข against the Texas Rangers. A coroner’s report determined he died of choking on his vomit, with a toxic โcombination of โขalcohol,โ fentanyl, and oxycodone in his system.
The case centers onโ Eric โคKay,โฃ the former Angels employee who was convicted in 2022 of providing Skaggs with an oxycodone pill laced with fentanyl and sentenced to 22 years in federal prison. His trial โคincluded testimony from five MLB players who admitted toโ receiving oxycodone from kay between 2017 and 2019.
During โopening statements, attorneys for the Skaggs family alleged โthat Angels playersโค routinely purchased drugs from Kay at โฃthe clubhouse,โ in the locker โroom, and in the team’s stadium parking lot to cope with injuries and “play โฃthrough the โpain.” Attorney Holley told jurors that Kay “regularly supplied theโข drugs they โคneeded to perform and they trusted him,” describing the situation as “rampant, out of control andโ incredibly dangerous.” โ
The lawsuit details how Kay’s wife alerted Angels officials to text messages on his phone indicating he was supplying โขdrugs to players after he sought treatment for his own drug use in 2019. Despite โthis, Kay was allowedโฃ to return to work in Juneโ 2019 โwith medical clearance and noโข restrictions, according to testimony.
Plaintiffs are seeking $118 million for Skaggs’ lost earnings, as well โas โcompensation for the family’s suffering and punitive damages from the Angels organization.
Following Skaggs’ death, Major League Baseball and the players association โagreed to begin testing for opioids and provide treatment referrals for those who tested positive. Skaggs had been a regular starter for the Angels since 2016,battling injuries throughout his career,and previously played โคfor the Arizona Diamondbacks.
The trial is expected to last several weeks andโข may include testimony from prominent players, including Angels outfielder Mikeโฃ Trout and Cincinnati Reds pitcher wade Miley.