Houston Astros pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. recently faced a harrowing ordeal that extended far beyond the field. After a difficult start against the Cincinnati Reds, McCullers and his family became targets of a wave of online death threats. To make things worse, some of them were shockingly directed at his five-year-old daughter, Ava.
While players are no strangers to criticism, the threats this time were way out of line. McCullers was unhappy with someone threatening to find his kids and murder them. The Astros pitcher was deeply disturbed by the situation, and his recent conversation with his daughter was painful.
McCullers revealed his conversation with his daughter Ava, and it’s not something any father would want to have with his five-year-old. It turns out that Ava overheard her mother, Kara, discussing the situation on the phone. When McCullers returned home, she confronted him with heartbreaking questions.
“She asked me when I came home: ‘Daddy like what is threats? Who wants to hurt us? Who wants to hurt me? So, those conversations are tough to deal with,” Lance McCullers said via the Associated Press.
Lance McCullers Jr. hires security after online death threats, some aimed at 5-year-old daughter (by @kristieAP) https://t.co/Uq2M3Ws3cW pic.twitter.com/0kOaWOB33V
— Steve Megargee (@stevemegargee) May 30, 2025
McCullers described the moment as one of the toughest in his career. He was forced to explain to his child why someone would want to cause their family any harm.
Lance McCullers Hires Security To Keep His Family Safe
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The Astros pitcher was forced to act quickly by hiring 24-hour security to protect his family. Emphasizing the safety of his wife and daughters was his top priority, and it was something he couldn’t compromise.
The Houston Astros contacted the Houston Police Department and the MLB. An ongoing investigation into the online threats continues. However, it’s hard for McCullers to put it behind.
McCullers is not the only one to have received threats. Boston Red Sox reliever Liam Hendriks and the Milwaukee Brewers’ Christian Yelich were also targets. Several other players have spoken out on frequent online threats. Lance McCullers has received huge support from his teammates and the Astros squad. The pitcher currently holds a 0-1 record with a 5.89 ERA.
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