Ex-employee facing charges in overdose of pitcher Skaggs BASEBALL NOTEBOOK

A former Los Angeles Angels employee was charged with conspiracy to distribute fentanyl in connection with last year’s overdose death of pitcher Tyler Skaggs, prosecutors in Texas said Friday.

Eric Prescott Kay was arrested in Fort Worth, Texas, and made his first appearance Friday in federal court.

Kay was the Angels’ director of communications and served as their public relations contact on many road trips. He was placed on leave shortly after Skaggs’ death and never returned to the team.

The Angels said they opened an independent investigation into Skaggs’ death. The team reaffirmed its position that management didn’t know Skaggs was an opioids user and didn’t know any employees were providing drugs to players.

Skaggs was found dead in his hotel room in the Dallas area on July 1, 2019, before the start of what was supposed to be a four-game series against the Rangers. The first game was postponed.

Skaggs died after choking on his vomit with a toxic mix of alcohol and the powerful painkillers fentanyl and oxycodone in his system, a coroner’s report said. Prosecutors accused Kay of providing the fentanyl to Skaggs and others, who were not named.

If convicted, Kay faces up to 20 years in prison. Federal court records do not list an attorney representing him.

Skaggs died 12 days before his 28th birthday. The Santa Monica native was drafted by the Angels in 2009 and later traded to Arizona, where he played his first two major league seasons before returning to the Angels in another trade in 2013.

■ Athletics: Bench coach Ryan Christenson apologized for “unintentionally” making a gesture resembling a Nazi salute following Oakland’s win over Texas. In trying to abide by social distancing rules, Christenson said he was trying to adapt the team’s elbow-bump gesture, and it “unintentionally resulted in a racist and horrible salute that I do not believe in.” MLB said Christenson won’t be disciplined.

■ Nationals: World Series MVP Stephen Strasburg (nerve discomfort in right hand) will start Sunday against Baltimore in his season debut, manager Dave Martinez said. The 32-year-old right-hander led the National League with 209 innings and 18 wins in 2019.

■ Reds: Manager David Bell said he is hoping second baseman Mike Moustakas (left quadriceps contusion) can return to Cincinnati’s lineup Tuesday. The 31-yearold three-time All-star has been sidelined since Wednesday.

■ Rangers: Bishop Gorman product Joey Gallo (sore right wrist) was held out of Texas’ lineup, and second baseman Rougned Odor (tight right oblique) returned for the first time since last Saturday.

■ Twins: Three-time All-star third baseman Josh Donaldson (right calf strain) was placed on the 10-day injured list, retroactive to Tuesday.