Los Angeles Angels star Mike Trout testified in court that he was alerted to possible drug abuse by former team employee Eric Kay before pitcher Tyler Skaggs’ fatal overdose in 2019. The testimony is part of a wrongful death lawsuit where the Skaggs family is seeking $118 million from the Angels.
On Tuesday, October 21, 2025, Mike Trout took the stand in Orange County Superior Court, providing emotional testimony about his awareness of Eric Kay’s drug problems. Trout, an 11-time All-Star, described how a team employee warned him about Kay’s possible drug abuse, which he later confronted directly. He explained that the concern arose from Kay’s bizarre behavior, including performing stunts for money that raised suspicions among team members.
Trout detailed how a clubhouse attendant suggested that payments to Kay for acts like taking a 90 mph fastball to the body or eating a bug off the floor might be for illicit purposes. Trout immediately interpreted this as drug-related and decided to limit Kay’s access to autographed memorabilia to prevent potential misuse. He testified that he made sure to know where any items he signed for Kay were going, fearing they could be sold to fund drug purchases.
In his testimony, Trout recalled confronting Kay, telling him, ‘You have two boys at home, and you have to get this right.’ He expressed surprise upon learning that multiple teammates had used illicit drugs provided by Kay, though he never witnessed Skaggs using anything beyond marijuana. Trout described Kay as sometimes ‘sweating’ or ‘wired,’ indicating signs of drug use, but he did not know the specific substances involved.
Tyler Skaggs died on July 1, 2019, in a Southlake, Texas hotel room from an accidental overdose involving fentanyl-laced oxycodone. Eric Kay, the Angels’ former communications director, was convicted in 2022 of providing the drugs and is serving a 22-year federal prison sentence. The Skaggs family’s lawsuit alleges that the Angels are responsible for Skaggs’ death because they failed to act on knowledge of Kay’s drug abuse, violating team policies.
The Angels have denied any wrongdoing, with their attorney Todd Theodora stating that the team was unaware of Skaggs’ drug use or Kay’s distribution activities. Earlier testimonies from team officials Tim Mead and Tom Taylor claimed they had no knowledge of Kay’s drug problem, contrasting with the plaintiff’s arguments that the team ignored red flags. The trial aims to determine whether the Angels’ negligence contributed to Skaggs’ death.
Trout’s testimony highlighted the personal toll, as he choked up while recalling his last interactions with Skaggs and the emotional team meeting after his death. He described Skaggs as a close friend, fun-loving and outgoing, and remembered the poignant game where Angels players wore Skaggs’ jersey and Trout hit a home run in a combined no-hitter. The days following Skaggs’ death were marked by grief and tributes, including Skaggs’ mother throwing out the first pitch at a home game.
The trial continues to explore the Angels’ liability, with potential outcomes that could influence how sports organizations monitor and address employee behavior. Further witnesses are expected, including Kay’s wife, whose deposition may contradict previous testimonies. The case underscores broader issues of accountability in professional sports, particularly regarding substance abuse and organizational oversight.