Angels Star Mike Trout to Testify in Tyler Skaggs Trial
Los Angeles Angels star Mike Trout is set to testify in a lawsuit regarding the death of former pitcher Tyler Skaggs, who passed away in 2019 due to a drug overdose. The trial, which is expected to last several weeks, will determine whether the Angels organization should be held responsible for Skaggs’ death. Trout, a three-time American League Most Valuable Player, is expected to take the stand and discuss his friendship with Skaggs, as well as what he knew about the team’s communication director, Eric Kay, who was convicted of providing Skaggs with the fentanyl-laced pill that led to his death.
The Skaggs family, including his wife Carli and his parents, filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the Angels, seeking $118 million in damages. The family claims that the team made a series of reckless decisions that allowed Kay to have access to players despite his known drug addiction and dealing. The Angels have countered that Skaggs’ actions were his own responsibility and occurred outside of team activities. Trout’s testimony is expected to shed more light on the events leading up to Skaggs’ death and the team’s knowledge of Kay’s drug use.
Background on the Case
Tyler Skaggs was found dead in his hotel room in suburban Dallas in 2019, where the Angels were set to play a four-game series against the Texas Rangers. The coroner’s report revealed that Skaggs had choked to death on his vomit, with a toxic mix of alcohol, fentanyl, and oxycodone in his system. Eric Kay was later convicted of providing Skaggs with the oxycodone pill laced with fentanyl and was sentenced to 22 years in federal prison. During Kay’s trial, five MLB players testified that they had received oxycodone from Kay between 2017 and 2019.
After Skaggs’ death, Major League Baseball reached a deal with the players association to start testing for opioids and to refer those who test positive to the treatment board. The Skaggs family is seeking damages for lost earnings, compensation for pain and suffering, and punitive damages against the team. The trial is expected to be a lengthy and emotional process, with several players, including former Angels pitcher Wade Miley, set to testify.
Angels outfielder Mike Trout catches a fly ball in front of graphic honoring the life of Tyler Skaggs at Angel Stadium in 2019.
(John McCoy / Getty Images)
Conclusion
The trial is expected to be a significant moment in the ongoing conversation about player safety and team responsibility in Major League Baseball. As the trial unfolds, more information will come to light about the events leading up to Skaggs’ death and the team’s knowledge of Kay’s drug use. For more information on this developing story, please visit Here
Image Source: www.latimes.com
