The Los Angeles Angels and the family of late pitcher Tyler Skaggs have reached a confidential settlement, concluding a lawsuit regarding his 2019 drug overdose death.
Skaggs, 27, died in a Texas hotel room from choking on his vomit, with a mix of alcohol, fentanyl, and oxycodone found in his system. The lawsuit, filed by Skaggs’ widow and parents, alleged the Angels were aware of the team’s communications director, Eric Kay, providing drugs to players.
Kay was convicted in 2022 of giving Skaggs a fentanyl-laced pill and sentenced to 22 years in prison.
The Skaggs family expressed gratitude to the jury and legal team, hoping Major League Baseball would hold the Angels accountable. The team maintains they were unaware of Skaggs’ drug use and would have offered help if known.
The settlement concludes a painful chapter. It also raises important questions about personal responsibility and choices.
