Former MLB employee found guilty in overdose death of pitcher Tyler Skaggs

Los Angeles Angels staffer Eric Kay has been found guilty on charges he provided the drugs that killed pitcher Tyler Skaggs.

Los Angeles Angels staffer Eric Kay was found guilty on Thursday on charges he provided the drugs that killed pitcher Tyler Skaggs.

The Texas Jury also found Kay guilty on one count of drug distribution resulting in death, and one count drug conspiracy. He faces up to life in prison.

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Skaggs was 27 when he was found dead on July 1 in 2019, having choked to death on his own vomit, before the start of what was supposed to be a four-game series against the Texas Rangers. A coroner’s report found a toxic mix of alcohol, fentanyl, and oxycodone in his system.

Kay, a public relations contact for the baseball team, was accused of providing the pitcher with counterfeit oxycodone pills that contained fentanyl.

The guilty verdict came down after less than three hours of deliberation.

Eric Kay of the Los Angeles Angels. Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images

Tyler Skaggs of the Los Angeles Angels. Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / AFP

Skaggs’ widow and mother hugged after the verdict was announced. Kay nodded towards family and friends in the courtroom as he removed his jacket and tie and was placed in handcuffs.

The trial in the Northern District of Texas included testimony from five Major League Baseball players who all said they’d received oxycodone from Kay.

Among them, Matt Harvey, former Mets pitcher and All-star, acknowledged receiving oxycodone pills from Kay. During the testimony, he also admitted to cocaine use while in the Mets bullpen.

Harvey said he testified only because he’d been granted immunity from prosecution.

This article originally appeared on the New York Post and was reproduced with permission