Context:

Houston pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. received online death threats against his children following a poor performance against the Cincinnati Reds, where he allowed seven runs in just one-third of an inning. Despite understanding the passionate nature of sports fans, McCullers expressed the difficulty of dealing with such threats, particularly when they involve his family. The threats led to involvement from the Houston Police Department and MLB security, as confirmed by the Astros. Manager Joe Espada condemned the threats, highlighting the absurdity of facing such issues after McCullers' contributions to the team and city. The pitcher, who has struggled with injuries, lamented the added stress of these threats while trying to focus on his professional responsibilities and family safety.

Dive Deeper:

• Lance McCullers Jr. faced severe online threats targeting his children after a rough pitching performance against the Cincinnati Reds, marking only his second start since the 2022 World Series.

• In the aftermath of the game, McCullers revealed the threats on social media, expressing his distress over the violent nature of the messages, which included threats of murder towards his children.

• The Astros organization reported these threats to the Houston Police Department and MLB security to ensure the safety of McCullers and his family.

• Manager Joe Espada publicly criticized the threats, emphasizing the unjust nature of the situation given McCullers' dedication to the Astros and his significant contributions over the years.

• McCullers expressed the challenge of dealing with such threats on top of his ongoing battle with injuries, highlighting the difficulty of managing personal safety concerns while trying to return to peak performance in his career.

• The incident underscores the darker side of fan engagement in sports, where the passion for the game can lead to dangerous and unacceptable behavior towards players and their families.

• McCullers stressed the need for decency and safety, as these threats impact his ability to focus on his role as a pitcher and his responsibilities as a father, affecting his peace of mind both on and off the field.