Jordan Whitlock, the wife of Red Sox pitcher Garrett Whitlock, is expressing frustration over the alarming messages they have been receiving from fans.
Following an incident where fans were banned from a game for taunting Diamondbacks player Ketel Marte, Jordan shared screenshots of some disturbing direct messages that she and her husband received this week, highlighting a pattern of unacceptable fan behavior.
In a post, she referenced a message from someone who claimed Whitlock had been “drilled” by a 110 mph line drive that resulted in a “daunting, violent concussion.”
Additionally, Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo mentioned that Chicago fans had shouted disrespectful comments about Marte’s deceased mother, which led to the fans being expelled from the stadium.
More troublingly, some individuals sent death threats to Jordan and Garrett’s family. “It’s important to remember that athletes are people too,” she commented, emphasizing the need for empathy. “Imagine if it were your friend, spouse, or child facing this kind of hostility.”
Jordan urged that discussions about such matters should remain outside of the sport. “We shouldn’t cross lines that impact families. This kind of behavior is not part of the game and is simply unacceptable,” she added.
Marte was visibly upset after fans mocked him concerning his mother, who tragically passed away in a car accident back in 2017.
In response to the threats, fans were subsequently banned from all MLB ballparks indefinitely. Garrett Whitlock faced online death threats aimed at his children after a challenging game against the Cincinnati Reds.
Jordan also referenced Astros pitcher Lance McCullers Jr., who had shared a painful conversation he had with his daughter regarding threats directed at their family. “When I got home, she asked: ‘What is Daddy’s threat? Who wants to hurt us?’ Those conversations are tough,” he disclosed to the press.
Not long after these incidents, Garrett’s teammate Liam Hendrix also voiced concerns, threatening to address those who make derogatory comments online.
