Houston Astros right-handed pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. is in the news for the wrong reason.
After a rough start against the Cincinnati Reds on May 10, McCullers and his family received death threats online.
The death threats came after McCullers recorded only one out and allowed three hits, three walks and seven runs in the first inning of the 13-9 loss versus the Reds.
Two weeks later, McCullers received 24-hour security courtesy of Astros owner Jim Crane.
ESPN released an article about the situation and McCullers opening up about the threats to him and his family on Friday.
McCullers was talking with his wife Kara over the phone about the incident and his 5-year-old daughter Ava overheard their conversation.
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“She asked me when I came home: ‘Daddy, like, what is threats? Who wants to hurt us? Who wants to hurt me?” McCullers told The Associated Press. “So those conversations are tough to deal with.”
The Astros contacted Major League Baseball security and the Houston Police Department following the threats, per ESPN. A spokesperson for the police stated it remains an ongoing investigation.
This isn’t the first incident in MLB this season. Boston Red Sox reliever Liam Hendriks took to social media following the news about McCullers to address people who were threatening Hendriks’ wife and sending “vile” comments to himself.
Many athletes deal with horrid comments on social media every day, but death threats to players and their families is a huge problem and shouldn’t be handled lightly.
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