Matt Harvey took the stand on Tuesday, testifying in the trial about the death of former MLB pitcher Tyler Skaggs.
Last week, Harvey was named as a possible drug source in the case U.S. v. Eric Kay. Kay is the former Los Angeles Angels communications director, who is facing two felony counts of distributing a controlled substance and distribution of a controlled substance resulting in Skagg’s death. Harvey was expected to testify about Skaggs’ communications with Kay.
Harvey is a government witness and was given immunity. He would have invoked the fifth amendment if not given immunity. By receiving it, he had to answer every question. Harvey admitted that testifying will damage him in public and his career.
ESPN‘s T.J. Quinn was live from the courthouse giving updates on the trial.
Harvey’s testimony in the Fort Worth, TX courthouse lasted 50 minutes. In it, he delved into his time with the Angels, his relationship with Kay and Skaggs, and his own personal drug use.
Harvey joined the Angels in 2019. He and Skaggs discussed drug use during spring training whether it was used to party or mitigate injuries. Harvey was asked by the prosecution what drug he partied with and he answered cocaine.
When pressed later about his use of the substance and if he ever hid his use, Harvey said “no one really asked.” Additionally, the former Met admitted to using the drug during his time in New York and was still using it when he went to California.
Harvey says no one from teams ever asked if he was still using drugs. He also alluded that drug use is a common practice in baseball with a culture that makes players desperate to stay on the field and play through injuries.
Harvey was asked by the prosecution if it was common for players to use oxycodone and Tylenol. He said yes.
“Guys are constantly doing what they can to stay on the field,” Harvey said. “At the time I thought I was being a good teammate.”
It isn’t just an issue in baseball. Harvey said one of his sources of Percocet was a hockey player, who was not identified.
Harvey says he gave Skaggs six or seven Percocet’s in the clubhouse during their time together. Otherwise, Skaggs received pills from Kay. Harvey received the pills at the start of the season and began using them in mid-April. Before some road trips in June, Skaggs asked Harvey for pills.
Harvey admitted to using in the clubhouse and dugout. Says Skaggs told him he crushed and snorted the pills on the toilet paper dispenser in the clubhouse bathroom.
Skaggs was found dead in his hotel room on July 1, 2019. Harvey was not on the trip.
Before the trip to Texas, Harvey asked Kay for a blue Percocet pill from Kay. Kay placed the pill in his locker but Harvey never took it after finding out the news about his teammate. Instead, he threw the pill in the trash, afraid of the same happening to him.
Harvey’s thoughts when hearing Skaggs’ death was it was an overdose. Skaggs’s official cause of death was listed as him asphyxiating on his own vomit.
Harvey and Skaggs aren’t the only players who received pills. Former Angel and current player C.J. Cron testified after Harvey. Cron admitted to receiving pills from Kay when he was on the team. He later received pills from Kay during a trip to Anaheim when he was on the Tampa Bay Rays in 2018.
Former Angel Mike Morin received pills from Kay as well. He would leave cash in his locker and Kay would place the pills there.
In stunning testimony, two active players admitted to using drugs in the clubhouse. The trial will continue through this week.
If you or someone you know is suffering from substance abuse, please contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration helpline at 1-800-622-4357