Houston pitcher McCullers receives death threats directed at his children after tough start
HOUSTON (AP) — Houston pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. said he received online death threats directed at his children after his tough start Saturday night against the Cincinnati Reds.
McCullers, who was making just his second start since Game 3 of the 2022 World Series, allowed seven runs while getting just one out in Houston's 13-9 loss.
'I understand people are very passionate and people love the Astros and love sports, but threatening to find my kids and murder them is a little bit tough to deal with,' he said. 'So just as a father I think there have been many, many threats over the years aimed at me mostly, and I think actually one or two people from other issues around baseball actually had to go to jail for things like that. But I think bringing kids into the equation, threatening to find them or next time they see us in public, they're gonna stab my kids to death, things like that, it's tough to hear as a dad.'
The Astros said that the Houston Police Department and MLB security had been alerted to the threats.
McCullers and his wife Kara have two young daughters.
A visibly upset manager Joe Espada addressed the threats at his postgame news conference and added that they were also threatening the pitcher's life.
'There are people who are threatening his life and the life of his kids because of his performance,' Espada said. 'It is very unfortunate that we have to deal with this. After all he's done for this city, for his team, the fact that we have to talk about that in my office — I got kids too and it really drives me nuts that we have to deal with this. Very sad, very, very sad.'
McCullers, who has had numerous injuries that have kept him off the field in the last couple of seasons, said it's difficult to have to deal with threats on top of trying to return to form on the mound.
'If you fail you fail on a very large stage (with) a lot of eyes and there's nowhere to hide,' he said. 'At the end of the day, I just want to do my job. I just want to be a good pitcher for the Astros and I believe I'll get there, but like I said I just think that having to worry about that, worry about leaving town and leaving them and things like that or dropping her off at school, I just think … there should be some type of decency.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
44 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Colton Cowser homers in return from broken thumb as the Orioles beat the Mariners 5-1
Seattle Mariners' Rowdy Tellez celebrates in the dugout after hitting a home run off Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Tomoyuki Sugano during the second inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, June 3, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Jason Redmond) Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Tomoyuki Sugano throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners, Tuesday, June 3, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Jason Redmond) Baltimore Orioles' Colton Cowser jogs the bases after hitting a home run off Seattle Mariners pitcher Eduard Bazardo (83) during the sixth inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, June 3, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Jason Redmond) Baltimore Orioles' Colton Cowser jogs the bases after hitting a home run off Seattle Mariners pitcher Eduard Bazardo (83) during the sixth inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, June 3, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Jason Redmond) Seattle Mariners' Rowdy Tellez celebrates in the dugout after hitting a home run off Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Tomoyuki Sugano during the second inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, June 3, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Jason Redmond) Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Tomoyuki Sugano throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners, Tuesday, June 3, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Jason Redmond) Baltimore Orioles' Colton Cowser jogs the bases after hitting a home run off Seattle Mariners pitcher Eduard Bazardo (83) during the sixth inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, June 3, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Jason Redmond) SEATTLE (AP) — Colton Cowser homered in his first game since being activated from the 60-day injured list as the Baltimore Orioles beat the Seattle Mariners 5-1 on Tuesday night. Cowser, who hadn't played in a major league game since March 30 due to a broken left thumb, cranked a solo shot to left field in the sixth inning for his second home run. It was Cowser's first home run since March 29, and came shortly after Mariners right-hander George Kirby (0-3) exited after taking a line drive off his face. Advertisement The Orioles tagged Kirby for two runs, one in the first inning on a sacrifice fly by Ramón Urías and another in the fifth inning on an RBI single by Ryan O'Hearn. Baltimore added two more run in the ninth inning. Orioles right-hander Tomoyuki Sugano (5-3), meanwhile, was superb. The 35-year-old rookie yielded just one run across seven innings, with the lone blemish being a solo home run by Seattle first baseman Rowdy Tellez. The Mariners struggled against the Orioles' bullpen before dropping their 27th game of the season. Key moment With two outs in the fifth inning, Kirby threw a fastball inside to Urías, which he promptly ripped right back up the middle. The baseball made contact with Kirby's face, and he immediately jogged off the field as blood flowed from his mouth. Kirby did not return for the sixth inning. Advertisement Key stat Cowser has reached base safely in all seven career games against Seattle. He's gone 8 for 20 against the Mariners with two doubles, three RBIs and seven walks. Up next Seattle right-hander Emerson Hancock (2-2, 5.64 ERA) starts Wednesday. Right-hander Cade Povich (1-4, 5.29) will start for the Orioles in the second game of the three-game set. ___ AP MLB:
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Federal officers in tactical gear spark chaos and confusion in Minneapolis
A federal law enforcement action in the heart of Minneapolis' Latino community sparked fear and multiple confrontations between police and residents Tuesday. Local said the operation was targeting drugs and money laundering, and that not arrests were made. (AP video: Mark Vancleave)
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Bryce Harper homers in first at-bat in return to Phillies' lineup after 5 game absence
TORONTO (AP) — With Bryce Harper back in the lineup, the Philadelphia Phillies got off to a booming start against the Toronto Blue Jays. Harper hit one of two Philadelphia home runs in a six-run first inning off right-hander Bowden Francis in Tuesday's series opener. Advertisement It was Harper's first at-bat since he was hit by a 95 mph fastball from Atlanta Braves pitcher Spencer Strider during the first inning of a game last week. The home run was his ninth. 'I felt good, body feels good," Harper said. "Arm is still a little sore but I feel good.' Back in action after missing five games with a bruised right elbow, Harper finished 1 for 3 with two walks and scored twice as the Phillies won 8-3, snapping a four-game losing streak. 'He makes our lineup so much better,' Phillies manager Rob Thomson said. The Phillies went 1-4 without Harper and fell out of first place in the NL East. Advertisement Harper followed a two-run home run by Trea Turner with a 394-foot blast, with both homers landing in Philadelphia's right field bullpen. It was the third time this season the Phillies have gone back-to-back. Turner said Harper's presence in the lineup forces opposing teams to change their game plans. 'He affects so many different people in so many different ways,' Turner said. 'That's why he's so good.' Harper's elbow, which underwent Tommy John surgery after the 2022 World Series, remains a sensitive area. 'Yeah, there's swelling,' he said. 'I think it's going to take a minute to go down but I thought today was a good day for me to get back out there. It's definitely bruised still and all that stuff, but we're working through it.' In light of the injury, Harper wore a protective guard on his elbow Tuesday. 'Felt a little bulky but felt good,' Harper said. ___ AP MLB: The Associated Press
