According to a report from The Athletic, a frustrated sports bettor was behind the death threats directed at Lance McCullers Jr. and his family after a poor outing against the Reds on May 10.
A Houston Police Department spokesperson told The Athletic that the bettor was “frustrated and inebriated when he lashed out on social media” following McCullers' outing, when he allowed seven runs in the first inning while only recording one out. The threat was determined not to be credible by the Houston Police Department.
Police say they are withholding the suspect’s identity as no charges have been filed yet. The suspect was apologetic and asked that investigators pass on his apologies to McCullers’ family, police said.
Following his May 10 start -- his second outing since a 2 1/2-year layoff due to major arm surgery -- McCullers and Astros manager Joe Espada addressed the media about the death threats issued on social media toward McCullers and his family.