SANTA ANA, Calif. -- Questions surrounding the Los Angeles Angels ' culpability in the overdose death of pitcher Tyler Skaggs in 2019 sat at the center of opening statements in the long-awaited wrongful death civil trial Tuesday.

Shawn Holley, the attorney delivering the plaintiff's opening statement, blamed the Angels for Skaggs' death and said the franchise put him "directly in harm's way" because of Eric Kay's continued employment. Kay, a former communication director for the Angels, was convicted in 2022 of providing the fentanyl-laced oxycodone pill that killed Skaggs. He is serving 22 years in prison.

The Angels' attorney, Todd Theodora, insisted the team was not aware of Skaggs' drug issues or that Kay had been providing Skaggs with pills. Instead, Theodora argued Skaggs died

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