Former Angels Executive Testifies Employee Convicted in Pitcher’s Fatal Overdose Struggled With Mental Health

A former Los Angeles Angels executive testified Wednesday that the team employee convicted of providing the drugs that led to pitcher Tyler Skaggs’ fatal overdose was a capable worker who battled mental illness and had been prescribed medication for depression and bipolar disorder.

Tim Mead, who previously served as the Angels’ longtime vice president of communications, was the first witness to testify in the long-awaited wrongful death civil trial brought by Skaggs’ family. Mead left the Angels just weeks before Skaggs’ 2019 death to become president of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum.

The family of Tyler Skaggs argues that the Angels organization bears responsibility for his death, claiming the team ignored warning signs and allowed a staffer with substance abuse issues — former communications director Eric Kay — access to players. Kay was convicted in 2022 of distributing a fentanyl-laced pill that killed Skaggs during a team road trip to Texas in July 2019.

Inside the Testimony

Taking the witness stand in a Santa Ana courtroom, Mead told jurors that he had been aware Kay was taking prescription medication and occasionally took time off work for mental health treatment.

“He was a good employee 95 percent of the time,” Mead testified. “But there were moments when his behavior was erratic — he’d yell at interns, engage in inappropriate relationships, or even accept money from players to pull off stunts like getting hit by a baseball.”

Despite those concerning behaviors, Mead said he believed Kay was managing his mental health and medication responsibly, and that he had no reason to believe Kay was using or distributing illegal drugs.

“I believed him when he said he understood his condition and was trying to get better,” Mead said. “He was doing the best he could.”

A History of Struggles

Mead recounted a troubling incident in April 2019 — just months before Skaggs’ death — when Kay’s erratic behavior at work escalated to the point that he needed hospitalization.

“His eyes were rolling back in his head,” Mead recalled. “He looked terrible. It was clear something was very, very wrong.”

Mead testified that Kay was part of the team’s employee assistance program and had been receiving counseling, which Mead saw as “part of the organization’s support system.” When asked by the Skaggs family’s attorney why he hadn’t reported Kay’s issues to higher management, Mead said he believed Kay was getting proper help.

“I didn’t think it was something to elevate beyond that,” Mead explained.

The Lawsuit and Allegations

Skaggs’ widow, Carli, and his parents filed the wrongful death lawsuit, claiming the Angels failed to enforce their own drug policies and ignored signs that Kay was struggling with addiction and distributing opioids to players.

The family’s legal team argues that the team’s negligence created an environment that enabled Skaggs’ fatal overdose. They are seeking $118 million in lost income, along with compensation for emotional suffering and punitive damages against the franchise.

The Angels, in response, contend that Skaggs and Kay were engaging in illegal drug use independently and that the team cannot be held responsible for what happened in a private hotel room on personal time.

“The organization had no knowledge that Tyler Skaggs was using opioids,” the Angels’ attorney said in an earlier statement. “Had they known, they would have taken steps to get him the help he needed.”

The Night Tyler Skaggs Died

Skaggs, 27, was found dead in his Southlake, Texas, hotel room on July 1, 2019, just hours before the Angels were set to begin a four-game series against the Texas Rangers.

A toxicology report revealed that Skaggs had choked on his vomit after consuming a deadly mix of alcohol, fentanyl, and oxycodone.

The discovery sent shockwaves through Major League Baseball, raising new questions about opioid abuse within the sport. The case also sparked policy changes across the league, including mandatory opioid testing and treatment programs for players who test positive.

Eric Kay’s Criminal Conviction

Eric Kay was convicted in 2022 of supplying the counterfeit oxycodone pill laced with fentanyl that caused Skaggs’ death. He was sentenced to 22 years in federal prison.

During his trial, five Major League Baseball players testified that Kay had provided them with oxycodone between 2017 and 2019, confirming that drug use had been quietly circulating among players and staff during his tenure.

Prosecutors described Kay as a “trusted insider” who exploited his access to players. The jury found that he had distributed opioids for personal profit while concealing his addiction from team leadership.

Kay, who has maintained his innocence regarding Skaggs’ death, is currently serving his sentence in a federal correctional facility in Texas.

A Team Under Scrutiny

The wrongful death trial — taking place more than six years after Skaggs’ passing — has placed the Angels organization back under an uncomfortable spotlight.

The case is expected to last several weeks and could include testimony from current and former players, including Angels superstar Mike Trout and veteran pitcher Wade Miley, who now plays for the Cincinnati Reds.

Legal experts say the trial could test the limits of how far professional sports teams can be held liable for their employees’ private conduct.

“Even if the organization didn’t know about Kay’s illegal activities, the question is whether they should have known,” said Los Angeles attorney and sports law analyst Maria Gutierrez. “That distinction could determine the outcome of this case.”

A Culture of Silence

The trial has also revived difficult questions about Major League Baseball’s handling of addiction among players and staff.

After Skaggs’ death, MLB and the Players Association agreed to implement new opioid testing rules, emphasizing treatment and education over punishment. Under the policy, players who test positive for opioids are referred to confidential treatment programs rather than facing suspensions.

At the time, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred called the new rules “a necessary step to protect players and honor Tyler Skaggs’ memory.”

However, critics argue the reforms came too late.

“This tragedy exposed a systemic failure to monitor player health and the culture of silence that surrounds drug use in sports,” said sports medicine expert Dr. Jonathan Klein. “Players often feel pressure to stay on the field and hide pain — that combination can be deadly.”

Remembering Tyler Skaggs

Tyler Skaggs was a talented left-handed pitcher who returned to the Angels in 2016 after starting his MLB career with the Arizona Diamondbacks. Despite battling injuries, he remained a fixture in the Angels’ starting rotation and was known for his humor, competitiveness, and love for the game.

His death left a deep scar on teammates, fans, and his family, who have since dedicated themselves to raising awareness about fentanyl and opioid addiction.

In a statement before the trial, Skaggs’ widow said, “We want accountability — not just for Tyler, but to make sure this never happens to another player, another family, ever again.”

Looking Ahead

The civil trial is expected to continue for several weeks, with additional witnesses, including medical experts and Angels executives, set to testify.

Legal observers say the case could set a precedent for how sports organizations handle employee misconduct, particularly involving drug use.

For Mead, who now teaches part-time as an adjunct professor, the memories of his years with the Angels remain complicated.

“Tyler was a great kid,” he said quietly outside the courthouse. “What happened was a tragedy — one that changed all of us forever.”