Lance McCullers Jr. hires security after online death threats, some aimed at 5-year-old daughter
- Lance McCullers Jr., a 31-year-old Houston Astros pitcher, hired 24-hour security in May 2025 after his family received online death threats, including threats affecting his 5-year-old daughter Ava.
- The threats followed a difficult start to McCullers’s season and involved his wife Kara and daughter overhearing abusive comments, prompting the Astros to notify MLB security and Houston police.
- Houston manager Joe Espada expressed anger upon learning about the threats and confirmed mental health professionals are available to support players experiencing such abuse.
- Christian Yelich said online abuse is a nightly issue for most players, and McCullers described these threats as the worst experience of his career, emphasizing threats to families cross a moral line.
- The Astros and Red Sox collaborate with MLB security to combat online threats, but challenges in identifying anonymous abusers and rising sports gambling suggest the problem will persist.
93 Articles
93 Articles
MLB Pitcher's 5-Year-Old: 'Who Wants to Hurt Me?'
Soon after Lance McCullers Jr.'s family received online death threats following a tough start by the Houston Astros pitcher, his 5-year-old daughter, Ava, overheard his wife, Kara, talking on the phone about it. What followed was a painful conversation between McCullers and his little girl. "She asked me when...
Astros Pitcher Reveals How Far He's Had to Go Following Online Threats
Houston Astros pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. and his family were targets of death threats following his poor start earlier this month. In wake of that, McCullers told the Associated Press on Wednesday he is taking extra measures to protect his loved ones, including hiring around-the-clock security. McCullers, 31, first brought light to the situation May 10 after a 13-9 loss to the Cincinnati Reds, in which he allowed seven runs and retired only on…


Astros take action after Lance McCullers Jr., his wife and two young daughters receive online death threats
The team hires 24-hour security for the pitcher and his family, as MLB security and the Houston Police Department are also involved
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