Lance McCullers Jr., a two-time World Series champion and pitcher for the Houston Astros, has reported receiving death threats on social media. The threats, which were directed at his children, came after a challenging start in a game against the Cincinnati Reds on Saturday night. McCullers, who has been part of the Astros’ World Series-winning teams in 2017 and 2022, allowed seven runs in just one-third of an inning, contributing to the Astros’ 13-9 home loss.
This was only McCullers’ second start since Game 3 of the 2022 World Series. The pitcher has been plagued by injuries in recent seasons, limiting his time on the field. Despite this, some Astros fans showed little patience, resorting to threats on social media.
McCullers, a 31-year-old right-hander, expressed his concern about the threats. He acknowledged the passion of Astros fans, but said the threats against his children were difficult to handle. He revealed that he had received numerous threats over the years, with some individuals even facing jail time for their actions. However, he found the threats against his children particularly disturbing.
The Houston Police Department and MLB security have been alerted to the threats, according to the Astros. McCullers and his wife, Kara, have two young daughters. Astros manager Joe Espada expressed his dismay at the threats, noting that they were not only directed at McCullers but also at his family.
Espada lamented the fact that such threats were being made against a player who had contributed so much to the team and the city. He expressed his frustration at having to discuss such a serious issue, particularly as a father himself.
McCullers, who started his career with the Astros in 2015, admitted that the death threats were difficult to deal with. He said they added to the pressure of trying to regain his form on the mound. McCullers, who has a 49-32 record with a 3.46 ERA in his eight seasons with the team, expressed his desire to focus on his job and be a good pitcher for the Astros.