MLB pitcher Matt Harvey testified in federal court docket on Tuesday that he believed it was not unusual for gamers to make use of the drug oxycodone in 2019, and that he did it with then-Los Angeles Angels teammate Tyler Skaggs, who died of a fentanyl overdose in the summertime of 2019.
Harvey and different MLB gamers have testified within the trial of Eric Kay, the Angels' former communications director who's accused of offering Skaggs with the medicine that killed him, The Washington Put up reported. Harvey mentioned he and Skaggs ingested medicine contained in the Angels' stadium in 2019 and mentioned Skaggs advised him he would often crush the drugs and snort them within the toilet of the stadium's clubhouse, Jorge Castillo of The Los Angeles Instances posted on Twitter.
Harvey additionally admitted to prior use of cocaine earlier than he joined the Angels, and mentioned he often shared Percocet drugs, that are a mixture of oxycodone and acetaminophen, that he was given across the begin of the 2019 season with Skaggs, based on T.J. Quinn of ESPN. Harvey described MLB's tradition as one the place gamers must play by way of accidents to be able to keep on the sector, Quinn reported.
Skaggs died in 2019 whereas the Angels have been on the highway to play the Texas Rangers and was present in his resort room together with drugs that have been later found to be fentanyl, and never oxycodone as they have been labeled, based on The Put up.
The prosecution's case towards Kay is centered round proving that he supplied Skaggs with the oxycodone drugs previous to his overdose and subsequently he seemingly additionally supplied the drugs that have been found to be fentanyl, The Put up reported.
That case gained extra deal with Tuesday as Harvey and different former Angels gamers testified, together with C.J. Cron, with the staff from 2014 to 2017, Mike Morin, with the staff from 2014 by way of a part of the 2017 season, and Cam Bedrosian, with the staff from 2014 to 2020.
All three of the opposite gamers have testified that additionally they obtained oxycodone drugs from Kay and that they took them within the stadium, Quinn reported.
Harvey testified that a blue tablet was left in his locker by Kay that was much like those present in Skaggs' resort room the day earlier than Skaggs died, however he had not taken it earlier than he heard about his teammate's demise, which led him to throw the tablet away, Quinn reported.
Cron additionally testified that he obtained drugs from Kay about eight occasions, each when he was with the Angels and after he left the staff following the 2017 season to signal with the Tampa Bay Rays, and mentioned he by no means had one other supply for the drugs and knew Skaggs was additionally taking them on the time, based on Quinn.
Cron, Harvey and Morin all testified that within the spring of 2019, when Kay was in rehab for his personal opioid dependancy, it appeared like Skaggs was not taking the drugs both, by way of his habits or a direct admission, Quinn reported.
The tradition Harvey described of gamers taking managed substances for a aggressive edge has been part of baseball for many years, which largely started after World Conflict II when gamers returned from army service with amphetamines generally known as "greenies," based on the New York Put up. The "greenies" and dozens of comparable stimulants that helped gamers be extra alert and overcome fatigue have been banned by the league in a 2005 settlement with the gamers.
The league has seen a number of different managed substances used to achieve an identical edge, from unlawful substances like steroids to authorized substances with giant quantities of caffeine and different stimulants like power drinks, former MLB pitcher Dirk Hayhurst wrote for Bleacher Report in 2014.
The protection has argued that it's not confirmed that fentanyl is what killed Skaggs and mentioned final week that it's doable he overdosed as a result of mixture of alcohol and oxycodone in his system, The Washington Put up reported.
Kay has pleaded not responsible to 2 fees, one which alleges that he possessed and distributed managed substances throughout his time with the Angels, and one other that alleges he "knowingly and deliberately" gave Skaggs fentanyl drugs whereas saying they have been oxycodone, based on The Washington Put up. If convicted, he would face a minimal of 20 years in federal jail.
This can be a growing story that will probably be up to date as extra data turns into accessible.
Replace 2/15/22, 1:30 p.m.: This story has been up to date with further data and context.
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