Latest news with #Astros'
USA Today
4 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Astros' Lance McCullers Jr. gets 24-hour security after death threats against family
Astros' Lance McCullers Jr. gets 24-hour security after death threats against family Show Caption Hide Caption Pete Rose now eligible for Hall of Fame after years of ineligibility USA TODAY Sports' Bob Nightengale discusses Pete Rose now being eligible for the Hall of Fame and what it means for the steroid era players. Sports Pulse Houston Astros pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. is getting 24-hour security after receiving online death threats directed at his family. McCullers, who returned to the mound at the beginning of May after missing nearly two years due to injury, told the Associated Press that his 5-year-old daughter overheard a conversation he was with having with his wife about the threats and asked him what was going on. 'She asked me when I came home: 'Daddy like what is threats? Who wants to hurt us? Who wants to hurt me?'' McCullers said. 'So, those conversations are tough to deal with.' The Astros contacted MLB security and the Houston Police Department about the threats, and team owner Jim Crane hired 24-hour security for the family after McCullers asked what could be done to protect his family. After McCullers' start on May 10, giving up seven runs in the first inning while recording only one out, Astros manager Joe Espada told reporters about the online abuse that the 31-year-old starter had received that night. "There are people who are threatening his life and the life of his kids because of his performance tonight," Espada said. "It's very unfortunate that we have to deal with this – after all he's done for this city, for this team. … I've got kids, too. And it really drives me nuts that we have to deal with this." McCullers helped the Astros win World Series titles in 2017 and 2022, posting a 3.47 ERA in 72⅔ career postseason innings. '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,' McCullers said on May 10. 'There have been many, many threats over the years aimed at me mostly ... But I think bringing kids into the equation, threatening to find them or next time they see us in public they're going to stab my kids to death … things like that are tough to hear as a dad.' Threats and abuse directed at players and their families have received increased attention in recent years, with many of the incidents tied to angry sports gamblers. "It gets ugly really quickly. It's scary, and it's sad," relief pitcher Paul Sewald told USA TODAY Sports in 2024. "It used to be fans who were upset because you blew the game for the team, but now it's gambling... They just care about their bets, and we're talking about money they don't have that they are losing. So, it's a very scary spot." Earlier in May, Boston Red Sox reliever Liam Hendriks – a cancer survivor – spoke out about the comments he received after a rough outing. "Just as an FYI: Threats against my life and my wife's life are horrible and cruel. You need help," Hendriks posted to his Instagram story. "Leaving comments to tell me to commit suicide and how you wish I died of cancer is disgusting and vile."
New York Post
11-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Post
Astros' Lance McCullers Jr. receives death threats directed at his children after tough start
A two-time World Series champion has received death threats from his own fans. Houston pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. — who was on the Astros' 2022 and 2017 World Series-winning squads — said he received online death threats directed at his children after his tough start Saturday night against the Cincinnati Reds. Advertisement McCullers allowed seven runs, all earned, in just one-third of an inning in Houston's 13-9 home loss. It was just the second start since Game 3 of the 2022 World Series for McCullers, who has had numerous injuries that have kept him off the field in the last couple of seasons. But some crazed Astros fans weren't about to give him a grace period. Advertisement After the loss, McCullers said he had received the threats on social media. '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,' the 31-year-old right-hander 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 going to stab my kids to death, things like that, it's tough to hear as a dad.' Lance McCullers walks off the mound after being taken out of the game in the first inning of the Astros' 13-9 loss to the Reds on May 10, 2025. Troy Taormina-Imagn Images The Astros said the Houston Police Department and MLB security had been alerted to the threats. Advertisement McCullers and his wife Kara have two young daughters. Astros manager Joe Espada was visibly upset regarding the threats to McCuller's family while adding that there also were threats to his pitcher's life. Lance McCullers throws a pitch during the first inning of the Astros' loss to the Reds. AP '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.' Advertisement McCullers, who began his career with the Astros in 2015, said the death threats are hard to deal with and make it even more challenging to try to regain his 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,' said McCullers, who has a 49-32 record with a 3.46 ERA in his eight seasons with the team. '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.' — with AP
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Astros Facing Jose Altuve Decision After Latest Ranking
The baseball outfield is an unforgiving place, and it's not for everyone. Especially not a star infielder like former Astros second baseman Jose Altuve. The nine-time All-Star struggled at second base in 2024, posting a -1 WAR at the position, but the team decided to outright remove him from second - where he made 1,749 starts prior to 2025, and put him in left field. Advertisement Altuve stated in Spring Training that the move allowed the team more flexibility in the wake of the Kyle Tucker-Cubs trade, which he was happy to do as a veteran. Over a month into the season, the move just doesn't make a lot of sense, with a new stat raising eyebrows on Altuve's defense. Among 92 outfielders, the 35-year-old Altuve's 79.1 mph average velocity is the lowest rank. The league average, according to Baseball Savant, is 87.2 mph for left fielders. Altuve's defensive WAR is -0.8, which dragged his overall WAR down to -0.6 for 2025. The Astros, sitting at 18-18 and third in the AL West, are clearly in need of a decision on where Altuve plays. Yordan Alvarez is entrenched at designated hitter, and outfield options are already very limited. Advertisement The option to move Mauricio Dubon back to left field seems like it would be the best option should the Astros decide to make a change. Dubon won a Gold Glove at the utility position in 2023 and was a positive defender in left field in 2024. Astros beat reporter Brian McTaggart stated that the current situation is that Altuve will start in left field in the shorter home alignment of Daikin Park but start elsewhere in bigger parks like Coors Field, Camden Yards and Comerica Park. Altuve's defense has slipped in recent years, and the Astros will have to mull over yet another decision to get back to their competitive ways. Related: Astros Suffer Major Injury Blow After Fluke Accident Related: Astros' Cam Smith Could Join Two-Time All-Star in Historic Club Thursday
NBC Sports
06-05-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Astros place Yordan Alvarez on injured list with inflammation in his right hand
Eric Samulski examines how Triston Casas' long-term viability comes in question after being shut down for the 2025 MLB season with a knee injury and which players are most likely to see an uptick in playing time. MILWAUKEE — Houston Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez is going on the 10-day injured list with inflammation in his right hand. The issue had caused the three-time All-Star to miss the last two games of the Astros' weekend series with the Chicago White Sox. The move, announced before the Astros' Monday night game at Milwaukee, is retroactive to Saturday. Houston recalled catcher César Salazar from Triple-A Sugar Land in a corresponding move. Alvarez, 27, has batted .210 with a .306 on-base percentage, three homers and 18 RBIs in 29 games this season. That follows a 2024 season in which he batted. 308 with a .392 on-base percentage, 35 homers and 86 RBIs in 147 games while earning a third straight All-Star Game selection and finishing ninth in the AL Most Valuable Player voting. He has posted an OPS of at least .959 each of the past three seasons and ranked fourth in the AL in that category last year. Salazar, 26, was hitting .197 with a .305 on-base percentage, two homers and seven RBIs in 21 games for Sugar Land. He hit .320 with a .387 on-base percentage, no homers and eight RBIs in 12 games with Houston last year.
Washington Post
05-05-2025
- Sport
- Washington Post
Astros place Yordan Alvarez on injured list with inflammation in his right hand
MILWAUKEE — Houston Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez is going on the 10-day injured list with inflammation in his right hand. The issue had caused the three-time All-Star to miss the last two games of the Astros' weekend series with the Chicago White Sox. The move, announced before the Astros' Monday night game at Milwaukee, is retroactive to Saturday.
