Overview

• Lucas Giolito told Commissioner Rob Manfred in a private meeting that he receives hostile messages after every game, including threats targeting his family over prop-bet outcomes.
• Players report that most abusive messages on Instagram and Twitter/X go unpunished because social media platforms rarely take disciplinary action.
• Last spring, reliever Liam Hendriks publicly described death threats he and his wife received after a loss, highlighting the persistence of the issue.
• The rapid expansion of legalized sports betting has increased fan wagers on in-game player props, fueling more frequent and violent harassment.
• Giolito and fellow players are urging MLB to introduce stronger reporting mechanisms and enforce new policies to protect pitchers from gambling-driven abuse.