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Mike Trout appeared in a Santa Ana, Calif., courtroom Tuesday to testify in a trial to determine whether his Los Angeles Angels should be held responsible for the drug overdose death of pitcher Tyler Skaggs.
Skaggs died in 2019 after taking fentanyl-laced oxycodone, mixed with alcohol, provided by former team communications director Eric Kay, who is serving a 22-year prison sentence. Skaggs’ family has since filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the Angels, claiming the team knew about Kay’s drug history, which presented dangers.
Trout testified that players would pay Kay for bizarre stunts, leaving Trout to raise an eyebrow. At one point, a club employee suggested the players stop, Trout said, because Kay might use the money for “bad purposes,” which Trout immediately assumed was drugs.
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Mike Trout wears a number 45 badge in honor of Tyler Skaggs during a Texas Rangers game at Globe Life Park in Arlington. (Kevin Jairaj/USA Today Sports)
Trout said he would not sign the autographs requested by Kay unless he knew who they would be for, for fear they would be sold for money.
Trout said it was clear Kay was “using something.”
“I just didn’t know what it was,” Trout said.
The three-time MVP said he only saw Skaggs smoking marijuana and drinking alcohol, never thinking he was using other drugs.
Los Angeles Angels designated hitter Mike Trout reacts during a news conference regarding the death of pitcher Tyler Skaggs before a game against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Park in Arlington. (Kevin Jairaj/USA Today Sports)
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Skaggs’ family is seeking $118 million for Skaggs’ lost earnings, compensation for pain and suffering and punitive damages against the team. In addition to Trout, other players, including former Angels pitcher Wade Miley, who currently plays for the Cincinnati Reds, could also testify in what is expected to be a trial expected to last several weeks. Miley was accused by Skaggs’ former agent Ryan Hamil in a deposition earlier this year as Skaggs’ drug supplier.
Former New York Mets ace Matt Harvey admitted during Kay’s trial that he supplied drugs to Skaggs. The two were teammates on the Angels the year Skaggs died.
Harvey, CJ Cron, Mike Morin and Cam Bedrosian also testified in court that Kay supplied them with drugs.
Tyler Skaggs of Los Angeles pitches against the Oakland Athletics at Angel Stadium on June 6, 2019 in Anaheim, California. (Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
Skaggs was 27 when he was found in a hotel room in Southlake, Texas, before the Angels played the Texas Rangers.
