The baseball world once again finds itself under the microscope as Los Angeles Angels superstar Mike Trout took the stand in a Southern California courtroom, testifying in the high-profile wrongful death lawsuit over the tragic passing of his teammate Tyler Skaggs. The civil trial, unfolding in Santa Ana, California, is the latest chapter in a saga that has rocked Major League Baseball since Skaggs’ untimely death in 2019. At the heart of the proceedings is the question of whether the Angels organization bears any responsibility for the actions of their former communications director, Eric Kay, who is currently serving a 22-year federal prison sentence for providing Skaggs with a fentanyl-laced pill that led to his fatal overdose.
Trout, a three-time American League MVP and one of baseball’s most recognizable faces, described his deep friendship with Skaggs, recalling how their bond was forged as teenagers drafted in 2009—Trout from New Jersey, Skaggs from California—and roommates in a host family’s basement during their rookie days in Iowa. “He was very funny, outgoing, fun to be around,” Trout said, painting a picture of a teammate who was the “life of the party” and the Angels’ unofficial DJ, always carrying a boom box through the clubhouse.
On the stand, Trout was candid about his discomfort with public speaking, but his affection for Skaggs was unmistakable. He testified that he never saw signs of drug use by Skaggs beyond the occasional drink or marijuana. “I had only seen Skaggs smoke marijuana and drink alcohol,” Trout stated, a sentiment echoed by others but now called into question as more details have emerged about the late pitcher’s private struggles. The revelation that Skaggs died from a toxic mix of alcohol, fentanyl, and oxycodone in a Dallas hotel room stunned the baseball community and led to sweeping changes in MLB’s drug testing policies, including the introduction of opioid testing and mandatory referrals to treatment for those who test positive.
The trial has brought to light the complex, and at times, troubling dynamics inside the Angels’ clubhouse. Trout recounted how players, himself included, used to pay Kay for performing bizarre stunts—horseplay, as he called it. These included everything from Kay taking a 90 mph fastball to the leg, eating a bug off the clubhouse floor, shaving his eyebrows, and even eating a popped pimple off Trout’s back. “I’m not proud of it,” Trout admitted under questioning from Skaggs’ family attorney, Bill Haggerty. The dares, meant as lighthearted fun, took on a more sinister tone when a clubhouse attendant, Kris Constanti, warned Trout that Kay might be using the money for “illicit purposes.” “The first thing that came to my mind was drugs,” Trout testified. “That’s what I got out of it. I don’t know what kind of drugs.”
Trout’s suspicions didn’t end there. He became increasingly cautious about signing autographs or memorabilia for Kay, worried that the items might be sold to fund drug purchases. “I made sure when he brought them [autographed items] down, I knew who they were going to,” Trout explained. This wariness reflected a growing sense of unease among the players about Kay’s behavior. Trout recounted seeing Kay “acting wired and sweating,” and said, “the first thing that came to mind was drugs.” Despite his concerns, Trout said he approached Kay, offering support: “You have two boys at home, and you have to get this right.”
The wrongful death lawsuit, filed by Skaggs’ wife Carli and his parents, seeks $118 million in lost earnings, compensation for pain and suffering, and punitive damages against the Angels. Their central claim is that the team made a series of reckless decisions that allowed Kay continued access to MLB players despite his addiction and alleged drug dealing. The Angels, for their part, maintain that Skaggs’ actions were taken on his own time and in private, and that the organization was unaware of the extent of Kay’s activities. “Angels Baseball did not kill Tyler Skaggs, and Angels Baseball only wishes that he could have come forward and told us about his struggles,” said team attorney Todd Theodora in his opening statement. “Told us about his challenges with drugs and we could have helped him.”
The trial has also featured testimony from other players and staff, further illuminating the extent of drug use within the team during Kay’s tenure. Former Angels pitcher Wade Miley, now with the Cincinnati Reds, is among those expected to take the stand. The federal criminal trial against Kay in 2022 included testimony from five MLB players—Matt Harvey, C.J. Cron, Mike Morin, and Cam Bedrosian among them—who admitted to receiving oxycodone from Kay between 2017 and 2019. Trout expressed surprise at the revelations about other teammates’ drug use, stating he had no idea the problem was so widespread until those testimonies surfaced.
Skaggs, who had joined the Angels’ starting rotation in late 2016 after a stint with the Arizona Diamondbacks, was seen as an integral part of the team’s future despite persistent injury setbacks. Trout remembered their off-field camaraderie—playing basketball, watching football, and sharing dinners. He noted that Skaggs seemed to be on the upswing in 2019, throwing in the low to mid-90s and recovering well from Tommy John surgery. The last time Trout saw his friend was in a hotel elevator in Texas, just after the team had flown in from California. “I still miss him,” Trout said, adding that Skaggs’ No. 45 jersey hangs in his home as a daily reminder of the teammate he considered a brother.
The case has become a flashpoint for broader discussions about drug abuse, accountability, and the responsibilities of major sports organizations. The Skaggs family’s lawsuit alleges the Angels ignored warning signs about Kay’s behavior, while the team insists it was kept in the dark. The trial is expected to last several weeks and could see further high-profile testimony as both sides present their arguments.
As the proceedings continue, the legacy of Tyler Skaggs looms large—not just for his family and the Angels, but for all of Major League Baseball. The league’s subsequent policy changes underscore the far-reaching impact of his death. For Trout and others who shared the field and clubhouse with Skaggs, the pain remains raw, and the search for answers continues. With testimony ongoing and the jury yet to decide, the baseball world watches closely, hoping that lessons learned from this tragedy might help prevent another.
