What led Houston Astros pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. to hire security for himself and his daughter
What led Houston Astros pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. to hire security for himself and his daughter (Image Source: Getty Images)
Lance McCullers Jr., a pitcher for the Houston Astros, took the unusual step of hiring private security all the time for his family after threats against his 5-year-old daughter Ava became more severe on the internet.
Because the threats got so serious, Lance McCullers' wife, Kara, had to discuss them by phone in front of their daughter. The veteran pitcher has had to comfort his daughter after she innocently asked him about the meaning of threats and the possibility of harm to their family. These serious dangers have changed normal family life so much that security services are now necessary.
Online harassment reaches dangerous new levels for Houston Astros families
The issue with Lance McCullers Jr. is part of a troubling trend for players and their families, as online attacks have turned from basic complaints to actual threats.
After learning about the threats made against the McCullers family, the Houston Astros called both the MLB security team and the Houston Police Department. Police representatives have stated that the case is still under investigation as authorities attempt to determine who sent the threatening messages.
Earlier this month, Red Sox reliever Liam Hendriks experienced the same problems when his family was threatened after he struggled against the New York Mets.
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The 36-year-old pitcher, who recovered from non-Hodgkin lymphoma, said online trolls wished he had died of cancer, showing just how far these bullies will go. The reaction from bettors in both events suggests that sports betting has made fans angrier, and they now direct their frustrations at the players.
Security measures and league response to protect Major League Baseball families
Lance McCullers Jr. acknowledged that hiring 24-hour security became an absolute necessity once threats escalated to include his children, stating simply, "You have to at that point."
The Houston Astros organisation has implemented comprehensive security protocols, including uniformed police officers stationed in family seating sections during home games, measures that were established even before the recent threats against the McCullers family.
Milwaukee Brewers All-Star Christian Yelich, the 2018 National League Most Valuable Player, confirmed that receiving online abuse has become "a nightly thing" for most players across the league.
Detroit Tigers outfielder Riley Greene completely deleted his Instagram account due to constant harassment from angry bettors, while Chicago White Sox outfielder Mike Tauchman noted that some teammates have endured racist and homophobic slurs both online and at ballparks.
Major League Baseball and individual franchises have developed cybersecurity programs specifically designed to identify and remove threatening social media accounts, though Boston Red Sox spokesperson Abby Murphy acknowledged the difficulty in tracking anonymous online harassers. The league continues expanding security measures for player families both at home venues and during road trips.
Also Read:
Top 10 tallest players in MLB history: Where does Aaron Slegers rank?
The McCullers incident serves as a stark reminder that professional athletes' families, including young children, should never become targets for fan frustration, regardless of on-field performance or betting outcomes.
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