Matt Harvey admits to cocaine and opioid drug use in Tyler Skaggs trial

Matt Harvey, known as the Dark Knight during his tenure as the Mets’ ace, shared a darker story Tuesday when he admitted to being a "partier" who used cocaine and abused painkillers both before and after he joined a pill-popping Angels clubhouse that prosecutors say led to the overdose death of pitcher Tyler Skaggs.

Harvey, 32, was called to the stand during the trial of Eric Kay, the former Angels communications director accused of supplying the fentanyl-laced pills that allegedly killed Skaggs, and described himself as not only taking drugs, but also supplying them on occasion to his Angels teammate, according to reporters in the courtroom.

According to ESPN, Kay’s attorney said Skaggs mentioned of the drugs that would later kill him, "Those are Percocets I got from Harvey." In his testimony, Harvey said he provided Skaggs with "six or seven" Percocets during the 2019 season, but that Kay was his usual supplier.

One of four MLB players who testified Tuesday, Harvey was granted immunity but believed his comments would hurt his future in the sport. Currently a free agent, Harvey went 6-14 with a 6.27 ERA for the Orioles last season. In 2019, he signed a one-year, $11-million deal with the Angels, and Skaggs died in an Arlington, Texas., hotel room on July 1 of that season.

Harvey said that Skaggs repeatedly asked him for drugs, specifically Percocet, before two road swings in 2019, and he received an oxycodone from Kay when the Angels left him behind on the same trip during which Skaggs died. Harvey recalled throwing the pill away once he heard of Skaggs’ death.

While the trial is focused on Kay’s responsibility for Skaggs’ overdose, Tuesday’s testimony painted a disturbing picture of drug abuse involving an MLB team, with Harvey playing a starring role. He talked about downing pills in the clubhouse and dugout and Skaggs crushing and snorting oxycodone off a toilet-paper dispenser in a clubhouse bathroom stall. Harvey attributed some of the behavior to the stress of performing at the major-league level, and said Skaggs asked for Percocet to stay "loosey goosey" for a start, according to ESPN.

Harvey’s personal history on the stand brought to mind some of his own troubled times with the Mets, especially when he was a no-show for a May 2017 afternoon game at Citi Field. That raised red flags about his off-field behavior in light of Harvey reportedly out partying until 4 a.m. the previous night and he was suspended for three games. The following year he was traded to the Reds only five weeks into the season.

On Tuesday, Harvey said teams never asked him about his drug use, which sounded rampant in his testimony. He mentioned multiple suppliers, including one back on the East Coast as well as a hockey player he declined to name. Harvey also said he was aware of the dangers of mixing alcohol and oxycodone and expressed remorse that he didn’t warn Skaggs to be careful.

"Looking back, I wish I had," Harvey said, according to The Associated Press. "In baseball, you do everything you can to stay on the field. At the time I felt as a teammate I was just helping him get through whatever he needed to get through."

The coroner’s report stated that Skaggs choked on his own vomit, with fentanyl, oxycodone and alcohol in his system. If Kay is convicted on drug distribution and conspiracy charges he faces a minimum of 20 years in federal prison.

By David Lennon

dave.lennon@newsday.comDPLennon

David Lennon is an award-winning columnist, a voter for baseball's Hall of Fame and has covered six no-hitters, including two perfect games.