Bettor Apologizes for Death Threats Against Astros' Lance McCullers Jr.'s Family

The Houston Police Department announced Monday that an overseas bettor made death threats against Houston Astros pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. and his family, according to ESPN's David Purdum.

The bettor admitted that he was intoxicated, lost money on an Astros game and sent the threats. He has since apologized and has not been charged, though the case remains open and charges are being considered.

On May 10, McCullers lasted just 0.1 innings in a 13-9 loss to the Cincinnati Reds, giving up three hits, three walks and seven runs. It was just his second start after missing nearly 2.5 years following arm surgery.

"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 told reporters after the game.

He said that his five-year-old daughter overheard his wife, Kara, discussing the threats they received.

"She asked me when I came home: 'Daddy, like, what is threats? Who wants to hurt us? Who wants to hurt me?'" he told reporters. "So, those conversations are tough to deal with."

The Astros responded by hiring a 24-hour security service for McCullers and his family, per the Associated Press.

"People should want us to succeed,” McCullers noted of the entire situation. "We want to succeed, but it shouldn't come at a cost to our families, the kids in our life, having to feel like they're not safe where they live or where they sit at games."

A number of MLB players told the AP that receiving gambling-related threats was on the rise.

"You get a lot of DMs or stuff like that about you ruining someone's bet or something ridiculous like that," Boston Red Sox reliever Justin Wilson told the AP. "I guess they should make better bets."