Mike Trout Breaks Silence on Tyler Skaggs’ Overdose in Court…

Mike Trout took the stand in a California court regarding the 2019 overdose death of his teammate Tyler Skaggs of the Los Angeles Angels. He testified that he considered Skaggs as a brother and had never seen any indicators of his drug use. A civil trial will determine whether the Angels can be held accountable for the former team employee, Eric Kay, providing Skaggs the fentanyl-laced pill that caused his death.

Trout shared emotional memories of Skaggs, having known him since 2009 when they were both drafted by the Angels as teenagers. He emphasized Skaggs’ light-hearted, joyful character, and how he was the life of the locker room. He expressed shock upon learning about the manner of Skaggs’ death.

Speaking about Kay, Trout acknowledged his competence at his job as team’s communications director but also recalled an instance where he witnessed Kay behaving unusually, prompting Trout to consider if he was using drugs. Despite this, Trout stated he didn’t believe Kay was providing drugs to players.

The court case has been initiated by Skaggs’ wife, Carli Skaggs, and his parents, claiming the Angels did not intervene when Kay was clearly struggling with drug use and even allowed him access to the team members despite his addiction. The team, on the other hand, asserts that Skaggs was responsible for his actions and that he used the drugs privately, also combining them with alcohol.

Eric Kay was found guilty in 2022 of providing Skaggs a counterfeit oxycodone pill containing fentanyl and was sentenced to 22 years in federal prison. Some other MLB players, including Wade Miley, have also admitted to receiving pills from Kay. The trial in Santa Ana, California, is expected to carry on for several weeks.