A federal court in Texas convicted Kay on one count of drug distribution resulting in death and one of drug conspiracy, at the conclusion of a trial which exposed a serious opioid problem within the Major League Baseball (MLB) team.

Sentencing is set for June 28, with Kay facing imprisonment of 20 years to life.

Skaggs died in July 2019, aged 27, while the Angeles were in Texas for a series versus the Texas Rangers.

An autopsy found fentanyl, oxycodone and alcohol intoxication to be the reason for Skaggs' death.

Prosecutors argued that Kay provided Skaggs with counterfeit pills which had been laced with fentanyl, the synthetic opioid which can be 100 times stronger than morphine.

During the trial, five MLB players testified to having received oxycodone from Kay.

One of those players, Matt Harvey, also testified to having given Skaggs Percocet pills shortly before his death.

Harvey was testifying with immunity from prosecution.

The court was also shown text messages where Skaggs had asked Harvey for oxyxodone because he wanted to feel "loosey goosey" before a start.

A dangerous picture of players self-prescribing opioids, whether to manage pain or relax, was painted during the trial.

Skaggs was among the countless pitchers to have undergone Tommy John surgery, where the ulnar collateral ligament in the throwing arm is replaced. 

MLB and the MLB Players Association changed their agreement over drug testing not long after Skaggs' death to include testing for opioids.

Sports Illustrated this week reported that there had been no non-prescribed use of opioids detected in the two years of testing since.