Eric Kay sentenced over Angels pitcher Tyler Skaggs death: Everything to know
By Mark Powell
Eric Kay, a former Angels team employee, was sentenced in relation to the death of pitcher Tyler Skaggs.
Kay was sentenced to 22 years in prison on Tuesday, as he was previously found guilty of drug distribution resulting in death and drug conspiracy.
Per those in the courtroom, there was no visible reaction from members of Skaggs’ family, despite a public statement they put out after the fact:
"“We are very grateful to everyone who worked so hard to investigate and prosecute Eric Kay. Today’s sentencing isn’t about the number of years the defendant received,” the family said. “The real issue in this case is holding accountable the people who are distributing the deadly drug fentanyl. It is killing tens of thousands of people every year in our country and destroying families along with it. We will continue the fight to hold responsible those who allowed Kay to provide a deadly drug to Tyler. But for their actions, Tyler would still be with us today.”"
As the statement reads, Kay died in relation to his fentanyl use. He was one of several MLB players who have since come forward in relation to drug use.
Eric Kay sentenced in Tyler Skaggs case
Prosecutors reported evidence that Kay had made derogatory comments about Skaggs and his family, as well as prosecutors and jurors, after he was convicted in February.
“I hope people realize what a piece of s— [Skaggs] was… Well he’s dead, so f— him,” Kay said in a recording. “All they see are dollar signs. They may get more money with him dead than he was playing because he sucked.”
As the recording suggests, the judge cited Kay’s refusal to take accountability for his actions as a reason for his sentence.
Skaggs’ death sparked a scandal in baseball, as it relates to so-called painkiller culture with pitchers.
He died on July 1, 2019, and per a coroner’s report “choked to death on his vomit and that a toxic mix of alcohol, fentanyl and oxycodone was in his system.”
Our thoughts and prayers continue to go out to the Skaggs family.