Eric Kay, a former employee of the Los Angeles Angels, has appealed his sentence in the Tyler Skaggs tragedy. Skaggs, a pitcher for the Angels, died in July 2019 from an overdose of fentanyl, a powerful opioid drug. Kay, who was the Angels’ director of communications, was charged with distributing fentanyl to Skaggs and other players. In August 2021, he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and was sentenced to 46 months in prison.

However, Kay has now filed an appeal, arguing that his sentence was too harsh and that the judge in the case made errors in sentencing, including failing to consider Kay’s mental health issues and his cooperation with investigators.

The appeal has raised questions about the role of the Angels organization in Skaggs’s death. The team has denied any knowledge of Kay’s involvement in the distribution of fentanyl, but some have questioned whether the team should have done more to prevent Skaggs from accessing the drug.

Tyler Skaggs was a talented pitcher for the Los Angeles Angels, known for his powerful left arm and his dedication to the game. He was just 27 years old when he died in July 2019, leaving behind a devastated family, team, and fanbase.

Skaggs’s death was initially attributed to natural causes, but an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) later revealed that he had died from an overdose of fentanyl. The investigation also uncovered evidence that Eric Kay, the Angels’ director of communications, had supplied Skaggs and other players with the drug.

Kay was charged with distributing fentanyl to Skaggs and other players, as well as with obstructing justice by providing false information to investigators. In August 2021, he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and was sentenced to 46 months in prison.

Eric Kay’s appeal of his sentence has raised questions about the fairness of the trial and the judge’s decision. Kay’s lawyers have argued that the judge in the case made errors in sentencing, including failing to consider Kay’s mental health issues and his cooperation with investigators.

Kay’s lawyers have also argued that his sentence was too harsh, given that he was not directly responsible for Skaggs’s death and that he had no prior criminal record. They have argued that Kay was unfairly targeted by prosecutors and that his sentence should be reduced.

The Tyler Skaggs case has also raised questions about the role of the Los Angeles Angels organization in Skaggs’s death. The team has denied any knowledge of Kay’s involvement in the distribution of fentanyl, but some have questioned whether the team should have done more to prevent Skaggs from accessing the drug.

In a statement released after Kay’s guilty plea, the Angels said that they had conducted an internal investigation and had found no evidence of any other team employees being involved in the distribution of fentanyl. The team also said that they had implemented new policies and procedures to prevent drug abuse among players.

However, some have criticized the team for not doing enough to prevent Skaggs from accessing the drug. Skaggs had a history of drug abuse, and some have argued that the team should have been more proactive in addressing his addiction.

The Tyler Skaggs case has highlighted the broader issue of opioid abuse in sports. Opioid abuse is a growing problem in the United States, and it has been linked to a growing number of overdose deaths in recent years.

In sports, opioid abuse is particularly concerning because of the physical demands of the game and the pressure that athletes face to perform at a high level. Many athletes turn to opioids to manage pain and injuries, but this can quickly lead to addiction and overdose.

The Skaggs case has sparked a broader conversation about the need for better education and prevention efforts to address opioid abuse in sports. It has also highlighted the importance of holding individuals and organizations accountable for their role in the opioid epidemic.

The appeal of Eric Kay’s sentence in the Tyler Skaggs tragedy raises important questions about the fairness of the trial and the judge’s decision. It also raises questions about the role of the Los Angeles Angels organization in Skaggs’s death and the broader issue of opioid abuse in sports.

While the appeal is ongoing, it is clear that more needs to be done to prevent opioid abuse and hold those responsible accountable for their actions. The baseball community must continue to work together to address this issue and ensure that tragedies like Skaggs’s death do not happen again.