Mike Trout's Testimony in Trial Over Teammate Tyler Skaggs' Death

Los Angeles Angels star player Mike Trout recounted his memories of Tyler Skaggs, testifying that he had a brotherly love for his late teammate and saw no indications of drug use before Skaggs’ tragic overdose in 2019 during a team trip in Texas.

Trout, who has won the American League MVP award three times and recently achieved his 400th home run milestone, spoke in a Southern California civil court to determine if the Angels had a hand in Skaggs’ fatal overdose, linked to a pill allegedly provided by their former communications director, Eric Kay.

Recollecting their early days together, Trout detailed how he and Skaggs formed a strong bond as rookies in Iowa. Drafted as teenagers in 2009—Trout from New Jersey and Skaggs from California—they grew close playing for the Angels.

Trout recalled Skaggs as a jovial and sociable person who enlivened the team, often remembered for carrying a boom box and serving as the team’s DJ.

Off the field, their friendship extended to attending Los Angeles Lakers games together and engaging in basketball matches, where Trout humorously conceded that Skaggs had a superior jump shot.

Reflecting on Kay’s role, Trout recognized his proficiency in managing players’ media interactions but disclosed instances of Kay behaving erratically, attributing his demeanor to potential drug use.

Despite observing odd behavior from Kay, Trout admitted he never suspected Skaggs of drug use, expressing shock upon learning of his friend’s drug-related death.

Skaggs’ family brought forth a wrongful death suit against the Angels, blaming the organization’s purportedly risky decisions for equipping Kay with access to players despite his alleged substance abuse.

This legal battle occurs more than six years after Skaggs, then 27, was discovered deceased in his Texas hotel room, amid an Angels series against the Texas Rangers. His autopsy revealed a fatal combination of alcohol, fentanyl, and oxycodone.

In 2022, Kay faced conviction for supplying Skaggs with a tainted oxycodone pill, leading to a 22-year federal prison sentence.

Seeking $118 million in damages for Skaggs’ lost income and suffering, the family holds the Angels accountable for their perceived negligence in managing Kay’s activities.

Skaggs, a mainstay in the team’s starting roster since late 2016, had a career marked by recurrent injuries and a previous stint with the Arizona Diamondbacks.

During Kay’s criminal proceedings, testimony revealed the extent of Skaggs’ undisclosed drug use, with former players, including Matt Harvey, underscoring the rigorous demands to maintain career viability as a possible motive for such usage.

Following Skaggs’ demise, MLB initiated opioid testing agreements with the MLB Players Association, targeting prevention and treatment for those testing positive.