Houston Astros pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. disclosed that he and his family have received death threats via social media following a game where he allowed seven runs in the first inning against the Cincinnati Reds. The threats are currently under investigation by the Houston Police Department.

Detectives from the Major Offenders Division are on the case. As of Monday morning, no arrests have been reported.

The incident marked McCullers’ first start at home after recovering from an arm injury that had kept him off the field for two years. He expressed that while he acknowledges the passionate nature of Astros fans, such threats against his family are deeply concerning.

“I know people are passionate and love the Astros, but threatening to find my kids and murder them is tough to deal with,” McCullers stated. He also reflected on how threats toward his family have been a recurring issue throughout his career.

“But I think bringing kids into it, threatening to find them or promising harm, is really tough to hear as a dad.”

After this harrowing incident, McCullers decided to deactivate his account on X (formerly Twitter).

Astros manager Joe Espada also acknowledged the unfortunate situation, stating, “It’s very sad. Very, very sad.”