Mike Trout Testifies in Tyler Skaggs Wrongful Death Lawsuit

SANTA ANA, Calif. — Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout testified Tuesday that he loved his teammate Tyler Skaggs like a brother and never saw signs of drug use before he died of an overdose on a team trip to Texas in 2019.

Trout, a three-time American League Most Valuable Player who hit his 400th career home run this year, took the stand in a civil trial in Southern California over whether the MLB team should be held responsible for its communication director Eric Kay giving Skaggs a fentanyl-laced pill that led to his death.

Friendship and Team Dynamics

Trout, who acknowledged he didn’t like speaking in public, told the courtroom about his friendship with Skaggs from the time they roomed together in a host family’s basement as rookies in Iowa and through playing for the Angels. Both were drafted out of high school as teens in 2009 — Trout from New Jersey, and Skaggs from California.

Skaggs was “very funny, outgoing, fun to be around” and toted around a boom box as the team’s DJ, Trout said.

Eric Kay’s Involvement

Trout said Kay was good at his job, getting players to give interviews and guiding them on which questions they might be asked. Trout said the players used to pay Kay for stunts like taking a fastball to the leg, shaving off his eyebrows and eating a pimple off Trout’s back. At one point, a clubhouse attendant suggested the players should stop, Trout said, because Kay might be using the money for a “bad purpose.”

Trout said he had seen Kay acting wired and sweating and “the first thing that came to mind was drugs.”

He said it was clear he was “using something.”

“I just didn’t know what it was,” Trout said, adding he approached Kay and told him if he needed anything to let him know. Trout said he also decided not to sign autographs requested by Kay unless he knew who they were going to out of concern they could be sold for money.

The Trial and Its Implications

The testimony came at the trial for a wrongful death lawsuit filed by Skaggs’ wife, Carli, and his parents, who contend the Angels made a series of reckless decisions that gave Kay access to MLB players when he was addicted to drugs and dealing them. The team has countered that Skaggs was also drinking heavily and his actions occurred on his own time and in the privacy of his hotel room when he died.

The trial comes more than six years after 27-year-old Skaggs was found dead in the suburban Dallas hotel room where he was staying as the Angels were supposed to open a four-game series against the Texas Rangers. A coroner’s report says Skaggs choked to death on his vomit and that a toxic mix of alcohol, fentanyl and oxycodone was found in his system.

Consequences and Aftermath

Kay was convicted in 2022 of providing Skaggs with a counterfeit oxycodone pill laced with fentanyl and sentenced to 22 years in federal prison. His federal criminal trial in Texas included testimony from five MLB players who said they received oxycodone from Kay at various times from 2017 to 2019, the years he was accused of obtaining pills and giving them to Angels players.

The 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 weekslong trial in Santa Ana, Calif.

Remembering Tyler Skaggs

Skaggs had been a regular in the Angels’ starting rotation since late 2016 and struggled with injuries repeatedly during that time. He previously played for the Arizona Diamondbacks.

After Skaggs’ death, the MLB reached a deal with the players association to start testing for opioids and to refer those who test positive to the treatment board.

Trout said he and Skaggs played basketball together, watched football games and went for dinner. The left-handed pitcher was improving after returning from Tommy John surgery and throwing balls anywhere from the low to mid-90s in what was turning out to be a good season for him in 2019, he said.

Personal Reflections

The last time Trout said he saw Skaggs was in a hotel elevator in Texas after the team flew out from California.

Trout said he still misses his friend, who he called the “life of the party.” His jersey, No. 45, hangs in Trout’s house, he said.

When asked if he’d rather be somewhere else rather than testifying in court, Trout answered quickly, “yes.”

“At least you’re honest,” plaintiffs’ lawyer Bill Haggerty said.

Conclusion

The trial of the wrongful death lawsuit filed by Tyler Skaggs’ family against the Los Angeles Angels continues, with Mike Trout’s testimony providing insight into the team dynamics and the events leading up to Skaggs’ death. The outcome of the trial will have significant implications for the MLB and its handling of player substance abuse.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the lawsuit about?

A: The lawsuit is about the wrongful death of Tyler Skaggs, who died of an overdose on a team trip to Texas in 2019. The lawsuit claims that the Los Angeles Angels were responsible for the death because they allowed their communication director, Eric Kay, to give Skaggs a fentanyl-laced pill.

Q: Who is testifying in the trial?

A: Mike Trout, a teammate of Skaggs, is testifying in the trial, as well as other players including former Angels pitcher Wade Miley.

Q: What is the outcome of the trial?

A: The outcome of the trial is still pending, but the family of Tyler Skaggs is seeking $118 million in damages from the Los Angeles Angels.