Tyler Skaggs Given Illegal Drugs By Angels Employee: Report

ANAHEIM, CA —Two Angels team officials were aware of Los Angeles Angels pitcher Tyler Skaggs drug use before his accidental drug-related death, ESPN reported. One of those Angels employees opened up in a report that detailed his cooperation with federal investigators who are researching Skagg's death.

Eric Kay, the Angels' director of communications, reportedly told investigators he provided oxycodone to Skaggs and abused it with him for years.

"Watching and reading the sordid details of my own weaknesses unfold on the national stage has been nothing short of horrible," Kay said in the statement released Sunday. The publication released details of the drug connection with Skaggs.

Kay expressed that he knew his "pain is entirely insignificant compared to the pain that the Skaggs' family is feeling," and would feel for the rest of their lives.

He stated that his decision to cooperate with law enforcement was "the right thing to do."
"That is all I can do from this point on, if it comes with public shame and ridicule, I accept that," Kay said.

The Angels responded in a statement after the article was released.

"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. "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."

Kay also gave U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration agents the names of five other Angels players he believed were using opiates, according to the report. Their names have yet to be released.

Kay's attorney, Michael Molfetta, confirmed the details of Kay's statements, given in separate meetings with DEA agents in Dallas and Los Angeles in late September.

Skaggs, 27, was found dead in his hotel room in Southlake, Texas, where the team was staying while in town to play the Texas Rangers. Skaggs died after ingesting alcohol and the opioids fentanyl and oxycodone, then choking on vomit, according to the coroner's report. His death was ruled accidental, and his family proclaimed that someone known to Skaggs from the Angels organization provided him with the pills.

Skaggs was a native of Woodland Hills and a graduate of Santa Monica High School. He and his wife, Carli, were married in December and had no children.

Skaggs was one of the most popular players in the clubhouse and had been one of the Angels' most reliable pitchers this season, going 7-7 with a 4.29 ERA in 79 2/3 innings across 15 starts. He was 28-38 with a 4.41 ERA during a seven-year career that was interrupted by the Tommy John surgery in 2014 and several other injuries.

City News Service, with Patch editor Ashley Ludwig