Angels Official Supplied Late Pitcher Tyler Skaggs With Oxycodone: Report

Oakland Athletics v Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

Eric Kay, the Los Angeles Angels' director of communications, reportedly told DEA agents that he supplied late pitcher Tyler Skaggs with oxycodone. According to ESPN, Kay admitted that he even used the drugs with Skaggs and said that he wasn't the only person in the organization who knew about Skaggs' addiction.

Kay told investigators that he gave Skaggs three pills a few days before the team left for Texas, where Skaggs was found dead in a hotel room. An autopsy revealed that he had fentanyl, oxycodone, and alcohol in his system when he died. Kay does not believe he supplied Skaggs with the drugs that caused his overdose. Skaggs reportedly texted Kay the day they left, asking for more pills, but Kay was unable to fulfill his request. 

Kay told DEA agents that he was in the room with Skaggs a few hours before he died and watched him snort two lines of what he believed was crushed oxycodone pills and a third line of a substance that he did not recognize. 

Kay also told agents about five other players on the Angels' roster that were abusing opioid pain medication. He said that he told team officials about the issue, but nothing was ever done.

The Angels have denied that they had any knowledge about Skaggs' drug problems.

"We have never heard that any employee was providing illegal narcotics to any player, or that any player was seeking illegal narcotics," Angels president John Carpino said in a statement. "The Angels maintain a strict, zero-tolerance policy regarding the illicit use of drugs for both players and staff. Every one of our players must also abide by the MLB Joint Drug Agreement. We continue to mourn the loss of Tyler and fully cooperate with the authorities as they continue their investigation."

Photo: Getty Images


Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content