HOUSTON — Houston Astros pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. has reported receiving disturbing death threats that targeted his children, following his challenging performance against the Cincinnati Reds on Saturday night. During the game, which culminated in a 13-9 loss for Houston, McCullers struggled, conceding seven runs while securing just one out in his second start since the 2022 World Series.
After the game, McCullers disclosed that the alarming threats came through social media. “I understand that people are incredibly passionate about the Astros and sports in general, but when they threaten to find and harm my children, it becomes extremely difficult to handle,” McCullers expressed. Reflecting on similar past incidents, he noted, “Over the years, many threats have been aimed predominantly at me, though there have been instances where individuals have faced legal consequences for such actions. But involving my children, making threats to them, or saying they’ll be harmed in public settings, is distressing as a parent.”
In response, the Astros organization has alerted the Houston Police Department and Major League Baseball’s security team about the threats. McCullers and his spouse, Kara, are parents to two young daughters.
Postgame, an emotionally affected Astros manager, Joe Espada, addressed the media about the unsettling situation. He emphasized, “People are not only threatening Lance’s life but also his children’s lives due to his game performance. It’s deeply unfortunate to confront this after all the contributions he’s made to this city and the team. Discussing such issues in my office, especially as someone with children, is incredibly distressing. It’s a very sad situation.”
McCullers has dealt with multiple injuries sidelining him over recent seasons. He spoke on the added challenge these threats present as he attempts to regain his top form. “Failing in this arena is highly public, and there’s nowhere to hide,” he mentioned. However, he remains focused on his professional goals: “Ultimately, my aim is to perform well as a pitcher for the Astros and I am confident I will achieve that. Nonetheless, it’s hard dealing with the worry of leaving town or even dropping my kids off at school with such threats looming. There must be a sense of basic human decency.”