Boston Red Sox's Hendriks Warns of Daily Online Death Threats Linked to Sports Gambling

Boston Red Sox reliever Liam Hendriks has publicly addressed the alarming rise of online death threats directed at him and his family, highlighting a broader issue affecting many professional athletes. Hendriks, who recently returned to MLB after battling non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and Tommy John surgery, revealed that these hostile messages, often fueled by sports gambling frustrations, have become a daily occurrence for players and frequently include violent language and personal attacks. He condemned the threats and urged those responsible to reconsider their actions, emphasizing the psychological toll such abuse takes on players and their families. Hendriks' statements come amid similar incidents involving other MLB players, such as Lance McCullers Jr. and Jarren Duran, illustrating a troubling trend of fan misconduct exacerbated by social media anonymity. While Hendriks continues to face challenges on the field, including limited playing time and performance struggles, he remains committed to his career and philanthropy, advocating for greater accountability and better management of online abuse within sports communities. The integration of sports betting partnerships with MLB teams has coincided with an increase in such toxic behavior, raising concerns about the impact of gambling on fan conduct.