Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout has shared his emotional experience following the tragic death of his former teammate Tyler Skaggs in 2019 during a recent court testimony. Trout, who is 34 years old, made history as the first player from the Angels to testify in the civil trial against his MLB team. The Skaggs family is seeking $118 million in a wrongful death suit, claiming that the Angels continued to employ Eric Kay, the team’s former communications director who provided Skaggs with fentanyl-laced oxycodone, despite concerns about Kay’s drug abuse.
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During the trial on Tuesday, Trout testified that he was made aware of worries about drug abuse concerning Eric Kay before Skaggs’ accidental overdose in 2019. Trout revealed that he had personally spoken to Kay about the situation, urging him to “get this right” as he had “two boys at home.” His testimony lasted for two hours and shed light on various interactions he had with Skaggs, evoking tears from Skaggs’ family members who were present in the courtroom.
Trout shared poignant memories of his last encounter with Skaggs on an elevator at the team’s hotel the night before Skaggs passed away. The news of Skaggs’ death was delivered to Trout in a team meeting the following morning, leaving him in tears. He recalled the challenging moment when Kay requested him to address the media after the tragic incident and described the emotional atmosphere at the game following Skaggs’ passing, where Skaggs’ mother threw the ceremonial first pitch, and Trout hit a home run that night, which he said was both gratifying and emotional.
In his testimony, Trout expressed his surprise upon learning that some of his teammates had been using substances other than marijuana and alcohol, and he mentioned that he had never seen Skaggs use any other substances. Furthermore, Trout mentioned that he had heard whispers about Kay procuring Viagra for players upon request. Eric Kay was accused of providing oxycodone to several former Angels players in 2022, adding to the complexity of the case.
The trial also featured opening statements from both sides, with the Skaggs family’s attorney, Shawn Holley, arguing that the Angels’ negligence in addressing Kay’s drug abuse directly contributed to Skaggs’ tragic fate. Meanwhile, the Angels’ attorney, Todd Theodora, contended that the team should not be held accountable for the actions of their employees and players outside of working hours, denying any prior knowledge of Skaggs’ drug use or Kay’s involvement in supplying substances to players.
It is essential to note that Trout’s testimony has brought to light the emotional turmoil and profound impact that Tyler Skaggs’ untimely death had on the baseball community. The revelations from the trial serve as a reminder of the complexities and challenges that professional athletes face both on and off the field. As the legal proceedings continue, the baseball world awaits further developments in this somber and heartfelt case.