Mike Trout testifies confronting Eric Kay over Skaggs drug use

In a pivotal moment for a tragic chapter in baseball history, Los Angeles Angels superstar Mike Trout took the stand in a wrongful death lawsuit surrounding the passing of pitcher Tyler Skaggs. The suit, brought by Skaggs’ family, seeks $118 million from the Angels. They claim the organization ignored serious concerns about former team communications director Eric Kay’s alleged drug problem.

Trout’s testimony gives us a look at his own observations about Kay’s troubling behavior. He described his shock when he found out about the hidden drug issues inside the team.

Mike Trout’s Testimony: A Rare Glimpse Inside the Clubhouse

As the first Angels player to testify in this civil trial, Trout shared a perspective that goes well beyond stats and highlight reels. He remembered personal interactions with Kay that set off alarms, including moments where he urged Kay to get help for his family’s sake.

Trout hinted at a quiet awareness of possible drug use, though he didn’t fully grasp how deep the problem ran in the clubhouse. There’s a sense that he wished he’d known more, or maybe done more, but it’s hard to say for sure.

Concerns About Memorabilia and Potential Addiction

One of the more striking details from Trout’s testimony involved memorabilia requests. He avoided signing items for Kay unless he knew exactly where they’d end up, worried they might be sold to fund a drug habit.

For fans, it’s a reminder that the glamorous world of pro sports can hide some very real human struggles behind the scenes. Not everything is as polished as it looks on TV.

The Core Allegations Against the Angels

The Skaggs family’s wrongful death claim hinges on the belief that the Angels organization knew about Kay’s drug problem but didn’t step in. Their legal team argues this negligence played a direct role in the tragic events of 2019, when Skaggs was found dead from a fentanyl-laced pill at just 27 years old.

“Directly in Harm’s Way”

In court, the plaintiffs have said that by ignoring warning signs, the Angels put Skaggs in direct danger. They point to interactions between Kay and team members that show a pattern of drug distribution.

The argument is that if the team had acted, things might have turned out differently. It’s a tough claim to prove, but it’s at the heart of this lawsuit.

The Angels’ Defense

The organization says the claim of negligence doesn’t hold up. The team insists it didn’t know about Skaggs’ drug use and can’t be blamed for what employees or players do outside of work.

This defense isn’t just about avoiding a huge payout—it’s also about protecting the club’s reputation while everyone’s watching.

Kay’s Criminal Conviction

At the center of all this is Eric Kay’s criminal conviction. In 2022, a court sentenced Kay to 22 years in federal prison for providing the pills that killed Skaggs.

The conviction already pins direct responsibility on Kay in a criminal sense, but the civil suit tries to connect that liability back to the team itself.

Implications for MLB and Team Responsibility

This case goes way beyond the courtroom. It raises some uncomfortable questions about Major League Baseball’s duty of care to its players:

A Wake-Up Call for Professional Sports

Everyone keeps talking about the Angels and Skaggs, but this lawsuit feels bigger than that. It could become a case study for how pro leagues handle—or just ignore—crises inside their own walls.

When someone like Mike Trout, who’s usually so reserved, steps up to testify, it says a lot. Problems can run way deeper in a team than fans ever realize.

 
Here is the source article for this story: Mike Trout testifies he confronted former Angels staffer about drug use