Overview

• Lucas Giolito told MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred in a one-on-one meeting this week that online threats to players have intensified alongside the rise of prop betting.
• He described receiving frequent abusive and death threats on social media from bettors upset over individual performance wagers.
• Giolito warned that reports to social platforms and MLB’s 2022 threat hotline often fail to deter harassers or result in disciplinary action.
• Although MLB and the players’ union banned in-stadium individual betting lines in 2022, pitchers say these measures do not address the growing volume of online abuse.
• Giolito proposed adding social media threat education to rookie orientation and is among players pushing for stronger enforcement and protective initiatives.