Source of death threats against Astros pitcher Lance McCullers identified as 'inebriated' bettor, police say

Police successful Texas person identified a antheral from overseas arsenic the idiosyncratic who allegedly made decease threats directed at Houston Astros pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. and his household aft his mediocre commencement against the Cincinnati Reds past month. 

A spokesperson with the Houston Police Department told The Associated Press Monday a antheral betting connected the Astros was "inebriated" erstwhile helium sent the threats connected societal media. 

Houston Astros starting pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. walks disconnected the mound aft a pitching alteration during the archetypal inning against the Cincinnati Reds astatine Daikin Park. (Troy Taormina/Imagn Images)

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"Investigators spoke with him, and helium stated helium had mislaid wealth betting connected the Astros crippled and was frustrated and inebriated erstwhile helium lashed retired connected societal media," the spokesperson said. "He was apologetic and asked that investigators walk on his apology to the McCullers family."

The Astros hired 24-hour information for McCullers and his household aft helium reported receiving online threats to the team. The Astros besides contacted MLB security and the Houston Police Department with those concerns. 

Houston Astros starting pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. (43) walks disconnected the mound aft a pitching alteration during the archetypal inning against the Cincinnati Reds astatine Daikin Park. (Troy Taormina/Imagn Images)

ASTROS PITCHER LANCE MCCULLERS GETS 24-HOUR SECURITY AFTER HE AND FAMILY RECEIVE DEATH THREATS

McCullers said he's had to effort to explicate the concern to his 5-year-old daughter. 

"She asked maine erstwhile I came home, ‘Daddy, like, what is threats? Who wants to wounded us? Who wants to wounded me?’" McCullers told the AP recently. "So, those conversations are pugnacious to woody with."

McCullers, who returned this twelvemonth aft missing 2 afloat seasons with injuries, said dealing with the threats has been the worst happening that’s happened during his career. 

Lance McCullers Jr. of the Houston Astros reacts aft giving up 3 runs against the Philadelphia Phillies during the 5th inning successful Game 3 of the 2022 World Series astatine Citizens Bank Park Nov. 1, 2022, successful Philadelphia. (Sarah Stier/Getty Images)

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"People should privation america to succeed," the begetter of 2 said. "We privation to succeed, but it shouldn’t travel astatine a outgo to our families, the kids successful our life, having to consciousness similar they’re not harmless wherever they unrecorded oregon wherever they beryllium astatine games."

The antheral astatine the halfway of those threats has not been identified due to the fact that charges person not been filed, constabulary said. ESPN reported that the lawsuit remains open. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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