Baltimore Orioles pitcher Cade Povich has condemned the rise of online harassment directed at athletes and their families following a poor performance on the mound this week. After a tough outing in a game against the Houston Astros, Povich received a threatening message from a disgruntled fan that included what appears to be an explicit sexual threat against his wife. Povich shared the message publicly on X, expressing that such behavior is unacceptable and that his family should not have to live in fear due to his performance on the field.
“I understand that I may not have performed or gotten the results that I, my team, or many fans may have wanted so I get the frustration,” Povich wrote. “Say what you want about me in that regard. However, going out of your way to DM my wife is unacceptable and what is shown in this image is crossing the line.” Povich emphasized that his wife and his family should not be subjected to threats in public or private spaces, regardless of how he performs in games. The message was sent shortly after Povich was pulled from the game with two outs in the fifth inning of a 10-7 defeat to the Astros on Friday.
The growing trend of online harassment has not gone unnoticed. Earlier this week, Seattle Mariners pitcher Tayler Saucedo shared a similarly alarming message he received after a poor performance. The message included explicit threats against Saucedo and his girlfriend, saying that Sauced. “I understand wanting me gone after today and this year as a whole. Nobody is more disappointed with how this year has gone for me than myself. Trust me, I want to win just as much as all of you whether I’m here or not. But messaging me this bulls— and my girlfriend and sending this stuff is beyond baseball,” Saucedo wrote in a post on X. “It’s insane how comfortable people are sending this stuff to not only me but my partner. Tell me I suck all you want, that’s fine but at some point we gotta get a grip.”
These incidents have drawn attention to a broader issue within Major League Baseball. Last month, Boston Red Sox pitcher Lucas Giolito approached MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred about the escalating problem of online bullying. He argued that the accessibility of online sports betting and social media has made the situation worse. “It only goes so far,” Giolito said. “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?” The situation has sparked conversations about the need for stronger safeguards to protect athletes and their families from online abuse. While the league has taken steps to address these issues in the past, the recent incidents highlight the continued need for more effective measures to ensure the safety of players and their loved ones.