After six weeks of testimony from the plaintiffs, the Los Angeles Angels began their defense in the wrongful death lawsuit brought by the family of deceased pitcher Tyler Skaggs by calling a former player to testify.
CJ Cron, who had two stints with the Angels, testified on Monday, Dec. 1, that Skaggs informed Cron he could acquire opioids from Angels communications employee Eric Kay, according to The Athletic. Cron testified he eventually paid cash to Kay and received the pills in the Angels clubhouse.
Kay is serving a 22-year sentence for providing Skaggs an oxycodone pill laced with fentanyl that resulted in the pitcher’s July 2019 death. Skaggs’ family is seeking $120 million in future earnings plus other damages from the Angels, claiming they knew or should have known that Kay was providing drugs to Skaggs.
Cron, a first baseman and designated hitter, testified that Skaggs informed him Kay could provide pills, likely after Cron mentioned he was playing through pain. Cron previously testified in a similar fashion at Kay’s criminal trial in Texas.
The Angels traded Cron to Tampa Bay before the 2018 season; according to The Athletic, Cron testified that Skaggs delivered him 15 oxycontin pills at Tampa Bay’s team hotel when the club played the Angels in May, and Cron paid Kay in cash later at Angel Stadium.
Cron also texted Skaggs in July 2018 before the Angels visited Tampa Bay.
‘Get as many blues from EK as you can, I’ll pay you however much.’
Replied Skaggs, in a reference to Kay’s struggles with addiction: ‘Lol he is off them. Text him.’
Cron testified that his text to Skaggs was in jest.
The Angels, per The Athletic, are scheduled to call orthopedist Neal ElAttrache, who performed Skaggs’ 2014 Tommy John surgery, and club president John Carpino to the witness stand this week. Skaggs’ mother, Debbie Hetman, testified that she informed ElAttrache of Skaggs’ 2013 Percocet addiction. The trial is scheduled to conclude Dec. 12.