UPDATE: In a dramatic turn of events, former Los Angeles Angels pitcher Mike Morin testified today in Santa Ana, California, revealing that he, the late Tyler Skaggs, and team employee Eric Kay were secretive about their drug use during the 2017 season. This testimony comes as part of the Skaggs family’s wrongful death lawsuit against the Angels, with implications that could shift accountability for Skaggs’ tragic overdose in 2019.
Morin’s statements in court confirmed that he believed only the three of them were aware of their illicit drug use, arguing that the team was not responsible for their actions. He admitted to keeping this secret from his family, stating, “I knew what I was doing was illegal.” His remarks underscore a critical point for the Angels, who maintain that Skaggs’ reckless choices led to his accidental overdose.
“I think that he wanted to not have a bunch of people know what he was doing,” Morin testified, reflecting on Skaggs’ mindset. When pressed on whether Skaggs was responsible for his decisions to consume alcohol and opioids the night of his death, Morin confirmed, “I think that he is responsible for his actions.” This assertion supports the Angels’ defense that they were unaware of Skaggs’ struggles with addiction.
Kay, currently serving a 22-year prison sentence for supplying Skaggs with a fentanyl-laced pill, was linked to multiple players as a source for illicit drugs. During his testimony, Morin revealed that he and Skaggs would crush and snort oxycodone pills, referred to as “blue boys,” in the clubhouse bathroom, highlighting the secretive nature of their drug use.
Morin described the distribution process as “extremely discreet,” stating that he would leave money in a cubby, which Kay would then use to drop off pills. He acknowledged receiving pain pills from Kay five to eight times during the season but claimed he was unaware of the risks, saying, “I was completely unaware in a very naïve way that a prescription pill could be tainted.”
As the trial unfolds, Morin’s testimony adds a complex layer to the ongoing case. The Angels assert they were oblivious to Kay’s drug distribution, while Skaggs’ family lawyers argue that the team knowingly put him in harm’s way by keeping Kay employed. Morin’s emotional appeal in court emphasized the immense pressure professional athletes face and his deep regrets about his choices, stating, “I am 100 percent embarrassed to sit here and say this is what I did.”
Earlier, Skaggs’ mother, Debbie Hetman, testified that she did not inform the Angels about her son’s addiction to Percocet in 2013, although she would have if asked. Defense attorneys have questioned her earlier statements regarding the severity of Skaggs’ condition, creating tension in the courtroom.
The trial is set to continue tomorrow with expert witnesses expected to discuss the financial implications of Skaggs’ death and how much he could have earned had he continued his career. As this case progresses, the emotional stakes remain high for both the Skaggs family and the Angels organization, shining a light on the darker side of professional sports and the challenges of addiction.