Yankees pitcher Carlos Rodón has had enough of the criticism.
While most pro athletes are used to hearing taunts from fans both in person and online, Rodón has been targeted by a growing wave of disturbing messages. A report by Athlon Sports revealed that some fans have gone as far as wishing harm on Rodón and his family. His wife, Ashley, highlighted the abuse last month on Instagram, sharing some of the vile direct messages she received following Rodón’s rough outing in a loss to the Boston Red Sox.
Now in his 11th MLB season, Rodón downplayed any concerns about safety, saying that heckling comes with the territory.
“We’ll be fine,” he told The Athletic. “We’re big boys.”
Athlon Sports linked much of the abuse to angry gamblers whose betting parlays were ruined by Rodón’s performances. Earlier this year, MLB.com’s Brent Maguire reported that Houston police had connected threats made against Astros pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. to a frustrated bettor.
Rodón acknowledged in his interview with The Athletic that fan hostility is increasingly tied to specific bets. Sports betting has surged since 2018, when the U.S. Supreme Court gave states the authority to legalize it. Though in-person betting was allowed at New York casinos since 2013, online sports betting only became legal statewide in 2022.
Not everyone agrees with Rodón’s response. In the same Athletic feature, Colorado Rockies catcher Hunter Goodman said he wishes fans were more understanding.
“People need to realize we’re human beings,” Goodman said. “Baseball is our job, but we also have lives off the field.”
Source: SI.com
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