Teammate testifies Tyler Skaggs informed him Angels staffer had drugsGabe Lacques, USA TODAYTue, December 2, 2025 at 3:38 PM UTC·2 min readAfter six weeks of testimony from the plaintiffs, the Los Angeles Angels began their defense in the wrongful death lawsuit brought by the family of deceased pitcher Tyler Skaggs by calling a former player to testify.
CJ Cron, who had two stints with the Angels, testified on Monday, Dec. 1, that Skaggs informed Cron he could acquire opioids from Angels communications employee Eric Kay, according to The Athletic. Cron testified he eventually paid cash to Kay and received the pills in the Angels clubhouse.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementKay is serving a 22-year sentence for providing Skaggs an oxycodone pill laced with fentanyl that resulted in the pitcher's July 2019 death. Skaggs' family is seeking $120 million in future earnings plus other damages from the Angels, claiming they knew or should have known that Kay was providing drugs to Skaggs.
Sunlight illuminates the pitchers mound with the jersey number of late Los Angeles Angels pitcher Tyler Skaggs before a game against the Houston Astros at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on July 18, 2019.
St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Jack Flaherty (22) points to the sky prior to pitching in the sixth inning against the Colorado Rockies during an MLB Players' Weekend game at Busch Stadium on Aug. 23, 2019. FlahertyÕs jersey nickname and cleats honored his friend Tyler Skaggs who passed away earlier the season.
Skaggs' jersey hangs in the dugout on July, 2019, the day after his death.
Fans gather in front of Angel Stadium on July 12, 2019.
Angels players stand on the field for a moment of silence before their game at Angel Stadium on July 12, 2019.
A memorial for Skaggs outside Angel Stadium in July 2019.
A memorial on the outfield wall at Angel Stadium.
A memorial outside Angel Stadium in July 2019.
Skaggs during his start on June 29 against the Athletics.
Skaggs walks out onto the field for a spring training workout in 2018.
Skaggs during a spring training workout in 2018.
Skaggs, left, is congratulated and given the game ball after his major league debut on Aug. 22, 2012.
Skaggs pitching against the Blue Jays in May 2019.
Skaggs warms up before a start in Seattle in 2019.
Skaggs pitching against the Royals in 2019
Skaggs pitched in the 2012 Futures Game in Kansas City.
Skaggs pitching in the 2011 Futures Game in Arizona.
Skaggs, right, with Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins before a game in May 2019.
Skaggs pitching against the Mariners in July 2014.
Skaggs during spring training in 2012.1 / 20Tyler Skaggs: Look back at the career of the late MLB pitcher
Sunlight illuminates the pitchers mound with the jersey number of late Los Angeles Angels pitcher Tyler Skaggs before a game against the Houston Astros at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on July 18, 2019.1 / 20Tyler Skaggs: Look back at the career of the late MLB pitcher
Sunlight illuminates the pitchers mound with the jersey number of late Los Angeles Angels pitcher Tyler Skaggs before a game against the Houston Astros at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on July 18, 2019.2 / 20Tyler Skaggs: Look back at the career of the late MLB pitcher
St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Jack Flaherty (22) points to the sky prior to pitching in the sixth inning against the Colorado Rockies during an MLB Players' Weekend game at Busch Stadium on Aug. 23, 2019. FlahertyÕs jersey nickname and cleats honored his friend Tyler Skaggs who passed away earlier the season.3 / 20Tyler Skaggs: Look back at the career of the late MLB pitcher
Skaggs' jersey hangs in the dugout on July, 2019, the day after his death.4 / 20Tyler Skaggs: Look back at the career of the late MLB pitcher
Fans gather in front of Angel Stadium on July 12, 2019.5 / 20Tyler Skaggs: Look back at the career of the late MLB pitcher
Angels players stand on the field for a moment of silence before their game at Angel Stadium on July 12, 2019.6 / 20Tyler Skaggs: Look back at the career of the late MLB pitcher
A memorial for Skaggs outside Angel Stadium in July 2019.7 / 20Tyler Skaggs: Look back at the career of the late MLB pitcher
A memorial on the outfield wall at Angel Stadium.8 / 20Tyler Skaggs: Look back at the career of the late MLB pitcher
A memorial outside Angel Stadium in July 2019.9 / 20Tyler Skaggs: Look back at the career of the late MLB pitcher
Skaggs during his start on June 29 against the Athletics.10 / 20Tyler Skaggs: Look back at the career of the late MLB pitcher
Skaggs walks out onto the field for a spring training workout in 2018.11 / 20Tyler Skaggs: Look back at the career of the late MLB pitcher
Skaggs during a spring training workout in 2018.12 / 20Tyler Skaggs: Look back at the career of the late MLB pitcher
Skaggs, left, is congratulated and given the game ball after his major league debut on Aug. 22, 2012.13 / 20Tyler Skaggs: Look back at the career of the late MLB pitcher
Skaggs pitching against the Blue Jays in May 2019.14 / 20Tyler Skaggs: Look back at the career of the late MLB pitcher
Skaggs warms up before a start in Seattle in 2019.15 / 20Tyler Skaggs: Look back at the career of the late MLB pitcher
Skaggs pitching against the Royals in 201916 / 20Tyler Skaggs: Look back at the career of the late MLB pitcher
Skaggs pitched in the 2012 Futures Game in Kansas City.17 / 20Tyler Skaggs: Look back at the career of the late MLB pitcher
Skaggs pitching in the 2011 Futures Game in Arizona.18 / 20Tyler Skaggs: Look back at the career of the late MLB pitcher
Skaggs, right, with Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins before a game in May 2019.19 / 20Tyler Skaggs: Look back at the career of the late MLB pitcher
Skaggs pitching against the Mariners in July 2014.20 / 20Tyler Skaggs: Look back at the career of the late MLB pitcher
Skaggs during spring training in 2012.Cron, a first baseman and designated hitter, testified that Skaggs informed him Kay could provide pills, likely after Cron mentioned he was playing through pain. Cron previously testified in a similar fashion at Kay's criminal trial in Texas.
The Angels traded Cron to Tampa Bay before the 2018 season; according to The Athletic, Cron testified that Skaggs delivered him 15 oxycontin pills at Tampa Bay's team hotel when the club played the Angels in May, and Cron paid Kay in cash later at Angel Stadium.
Cron also texted Skaggs in July 2018 before the Angels visited Tampa Bay.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement"Get as many blues from EK as you can, I’ll pay you however much."
Replied Skaggs, in a reference to Kay's struggles with addiction: "Lol he is off them. Text him."
Cron testified that his text to Skaggs was in jest.
The Angels, per The Athletic, are scheduled to call orthopedist Neal ElAttrache, who performed Skaggs' 2014 Tommy John surgery, and club president John Carpino to the witness stand this week. Skaggs' mother, Debbie Hetman, testified that she informed ElAttrache of Skaggs' 2013 Percocet addiction. The trial is scheduled to conclude Dec. 12.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Tyler Skaggs trial turns to Angels' defense as CJ Cron testifies
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