Boston Red Sox pitcher Lucas Giolito has sounded the alarm over increasing abuse directed at MLB players from disgruntled sports bettors. In a recent conversation with Commissioner Rob Manfred, Giolito expressed fears that the harassment could eventually lead to physical violence against athletes.

Anger Fueled by Prop Bets and Gambling Addiction

Speaking on the Baseball Isn’t Boring podcast, Giolito described the private exchange he had with Manfred during the commissioner’s recent visit with the Red Sox and Philadelphia Phillies. The pitcher took that opportunity to share his growing concern about the volume and intensity of betting-related abuse circulating online.

“I asked him about something that has been on my mind this year that’s been a little worrisome for me with the rise of sports betting – the access that exists now with social media and everything,” Giolito said. He emphasized that verbal attacks are becoming increasingly common, with threats directed not only at players but also at their families.

As Giolito, a former All-Star, noted that even after strong performances, he’s bombarded with messages from bettors angry over missed prop bets. “Even games where I pitch well, where they’re mad at me because I hit the strikeout over instead of being under… People put hundreds of dollars on it and they don’t have a lot of money, but they’re gambling it anyways because it’s a disease. They freak out.”

According to Fox Sports, his girlfriend, too, has been a target, receiving vile and threatening messages on Instagram and X. While he tries to report such content, Giolito claims the platforms rarely take meaningful action.

The pitcher believes the situation is worsening rapidly: “It’s getting worse by the year, by the week, by the day. It’s astronomically more,” he said. Though he acknowledged sports betting has long existed, he stressed that easier access to betting and to players through digital platforms has intensified the issue.

Giolito added that avoiding social media is not a real solution for many in the game, especially younger teammates. “I can’t go tell [22-year-old teammate] Marcelo Mayer, ‘hey, you should delete Instagram.’ What the hell are you talking about?” he said.

Calls for Education and League Support

To address the issue proactively, Giolito recommended that MLB introduce harassment-awareness content into rookie training programs. “Maybe, at this point, they put it in the rookie orientation program. It definitely wasn’t there when I was there, that was a long time ago.”

The problem, he noted, goes beyond hurtful messages. “I’ve gotten all sorts of nice messages describing in detail what this person would do to me if they’re standing in front of me,” Giolito said. While he feels equipped to manage the threats mentally, he expressed worry for newer players who might not be prepared.

His gravest concern centers on the potential for real-world harm: “What is it going to take, a player getting assaulted in front of their apartment building by some disgruntled guy that lost a bet, for real action to be taken?” he asked.

Giolito’s concerns echo incidents involving other MLB players. In May, Houston Astros pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. and his family received death threats from an overseas bettor. Authorities later identified the man as “inebriated,” but the seriousness of the threats led McCullers to hire private security.

Other cases include Detroit Tigers outfielder Riley Greene, who deactivated his Instagram after enduring similar abuse, and Cleveland Guardians pitcher Logan Allen, who was followed home by a fan enraged over a lost bet. Red Sox teammate Liam Hendriks also recently spoke out after receiving threats against himself and his family.

Additionally, some players have received payment requests through apps like Venmo from angry gamblers who expect compensation for their losses.

Despite these warnings, it’s unclear if MLB or the MLB Players’ Association have formal plans to address the issue. When contacted, neither provided comment prior to publication.