SANTA ANA, Calif. (AP) — The Los Angeles Angels are facing serious allegations regarding the drug overdose death of 27-year-old pitcher Tyler Skaggs, as the family of the late athlete argues that the team should be held accountable. During the opening statements of a civil trial on Tuesday, attorney Shawn Holley, representing Skaggs' wife and parents, claimed that the Angels failed to adhere to their own drug policies. They allowed their communication director, Eric Kay—who had known issues with addiction and was reportedly dealing drugs—to remain employed and maintain access to players.
Holley contended that Angels officials were aware of Kay's opioid addiction and his erratic behavior while at work, which included being high and distributing drugs to at least six players, including Skaggs. He accused the team of neglecting Kay's situation while strictly enforcing drug policies on lower-level employees. "They buried their heads in the sand over and over again, and as a result Tyler Skaggs is dead," Holley stated.
In contrast, Todd Theodora, representing the Angels, asserted that the team had no indication Skaggs was using drugs. He emphasized that had the organization known about Skaggs’ drug use, they would have intervened. Theodora highlighted the findings from the autopsy, which revealed that Skaggs had consumed alcohol and taken oxycodone in addition to the fentanyl. He stated that any actions taken by Skaggs occurred during his own time and were therefore outside the team's ability to manage. "He died due to his reckless decision to mix large amounts of alcohol with narcotics on the night he died," Theodora explained, insisting that the Angels had no knowledge of Skaggs being involved in drugs.
The case has garnered significant public interest, coming more than six years after Skaggs was found dead in a hotel room in suburban Dallas on July 1, 2019. At the time, the Angels were preparing to play a series against the Texas Rangers. The coroner's report indicated that Skaggs choked on his vomit, with a toxic combination of substances, including alcohol, fentanyl, and oxycodone, in his system.
Eric Kay was convicted in 2022 of distributing the fentanyl-laced oxycodone that led to Skaggs' death and was subsequently sentenced to 22 years in federal prison. His earlier trial included testimony from multiple MLB players who recounted receiving oxycodone from Kay over a period spanning 2017 to 2019. Holley informed the jury that drugs were frequently being sold in the Angels' clubhouse, locker room, and stadium parking lot, as players sought to manage pain while competing. Kay's drug problems worsened to the point where, in 2019, he sought treatment for his addiction, during which incriminating text messages about his dealings with players came to light.
According to Holley, the environment facilitated an alarming level of drug use, with players feeling a dependency on Kay for performance-enhancing substances. Upon returning from rehab in June 2019, Kay had medical clearance to return to work and was not subject to any restrictions, as Theodora clarified.
The plaintiffs are seeking $118 million in damages, aimed at compensating for Skaggs’ lost earnings and the suffering inflicted upon his family, including punitive damages directed at the Angels. Following Skaggs’ tragic and untimely death, Major League Baseball instituted new policies to screen players for opioids and direct those who test positive towards treatment. At the time of his passing, Skaggs was an essential member of the Angels' starting rotation, having dealt with various injuries throughout his career. The ongoing trial is expected to last several weeks and may feature testimonies from notable players, including Angels superstar Mike Trout and former pitcher Wade Miley, currently with the Cincinnati Reds.
