“They want to stab my kids”: Astros’ Lance McCullers Jr. gets 24-hour security after chilling death threats rock MLB

Houston Astros pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. has taken the extraordinary step of hiring 24-hour security to protect his family after receiving a series of online death threats, some of which were directed at his 5-year-old daughter, Ava.

The threats come after McCullers’ May 10 start against the Cincinnati Reds, where he allowed seven runs in the first inning. The online vitriol quickly escalated beyond criticism of his performance, targeting his wife, Kara Kilfoile, and their two young daughters.

“She asked me when I came home: ‘Daddy, like, what is threats? Who wants to hurt us? Who wants to hurt me?” McCullers recounted to The Associated Press. “So, those conversations are tough to deal with.”

The Astros organization promptly contacted Major League Baseball security and the Houston Police Department. In response, team owner Jim Crane arranged for full-time security to ensure the family’s safety.

Journey of Lance McCullers Jr.

McCullers, a key contributor to the Astros’ 2017 and 2022 World Series titles, expressed his distress over the situation. “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 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.”

This incident is part of a troubling trend in Major League Baseball, where players and their families are increasingly subjected to online abuse, often linked to sports gambling.

Boston Red Sox reliever Liam Hendriks, a cancer survivor, recently spoke out about similar threats he and his wife received. “Just as an FYI: Threats against my life and my wife’s life are horrible and cruel. You need help,” Hendriks posted on Instagram. “Leaving comments to tell me to commit suicide and how you wish I died of cancer is disgusting and vile.”

The rise in such threats has prompted MLB teams to collaborate with security experts and cyber analysts to identify and address these issues.

However, the anonymity afforded by social media platforms poses significant challenges. Some players, like Detroit’s Riley Greene, have even quit social media due to the negativity.

Despite increased efforts for protection and mental health support, players express concern that the online abuse problem may worsen without broader societal changes.

As McCullers emphasized, “You have to at that point,” referring to hiring security. “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,” said Astros manager Joe Espada.