Houston Astros pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. is getting 24-hour security after receiving online death threats directed at his family.
McCullers, who returned to the mound at the beginning of May after missing nearly two years due to injury, told the Associated Press that his 5-year-old daughter overheard a conversation he was with having with his wife about the threats and asked him what was going on.
“She asked me when I came home: ‘Daddy like what is threats? Who wants to hurt us? Who wants to hurt me?’” McCullers said. “So, those conversations are tough to deal with.”
The Astros contacted MLB security and the Houston Police Department about the threats, and team owner Jim Crane hired 24-hour security for the family after McCullers asked what could be done to protect his family.
After McCullers’ start on May 10, giving up seven runs in the first inning while recording only one out, Astros manager Joe Espada told reporters about the online abuse that the 31-year-old starter had received that night.
‘There are people who are threatening his life and the life of his kids because of his performance tonight,’ Espada said. ‘It’s very unfortunate that we have to deal with this – after all he’s done for this city, for this team. … I’ve got kids, too. And it really drives me nuts that we have to deal with this.’
McCullers helped the Astros win World Series titles in 2017 and 2022, posting a 3.47 ERA in 72⅔ career postseason innings.
“I understand people are very passionate and people love the Astros and love sports, but threatening to find my kids and murder them is a little bit tough to deal with,” McCullers said on May 10.
“There have been many, many threats over the years aimed at me mostly … But I think bringing kids into the equation, threatening to find them or next time they see us in public they’re going to stab my kids to death … things like that are tough to hear as a dad.”
Threats and abuse directed at players and their families have received increased attention in recent years, with many of the incidents tied to angry sports gamblers.
‘It gets ugly really quickly. It’s scary, and it’s sad,’ relief pitcher Paul Sewald told USA TODAY Sports in 2024. ‘It used to be fans who were upset because you blew the game for the team, but now it’s gambling… They just care about their bets, and we’re talking about money they don’t have that they are losing. So, it’s a very scary spot.’
Earlier in May, Boston Red Sox reliever Liam Hendriks – a cancer survivor – spoke out about the comments he received after a rough outing.
‘Just as an FYI: Threats against my life and my wife’s life are horrible and cruel. You need help,’ Hendriks posted to his Instagram story. ‘Leaving comments to tell me to commit suicide and how you wish I died of cancer is disgusting and vile.’