Boston Red Sox pitcher Liam Hendriks has publicly denounced a series of death threats and hateful messages directed at him and his wife, following the team’s 5-1 loss to the New York Mets. In an Instagram Story, the 36-year-old Australian reliever expressed his disgust over the vitriolic comments, some of which wished he had died from cancer.

“Threats against my life and my wife’s life are horrible and cruel,” Hendriks wrote. “Leaving comments telling me to commit suicide and how you wish I died from cancer is disgusting and vile.” He urged those responsible to “reevaluate your life’s purpose before hiding behind a screen attacking players and their families.”

Hendriks, who made a remarkable comeback to Major League Baseball after battling Stage 4 non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 2023 and undergoing Tommy John surgery later that year, has appeared in 11 games this season with a 5.56 ERA. Despite his challenges, he emphasized the need for more pitching opportunities to regain his form.

The incident highlights a growing concern over online abuse directed at athletes. Hendriks concluded his message with a broader call to end such misconduct within the sport, stating, “I think I speak for all players who have had to deal with this in their career.”

This episode follows a recent incident involving Red Sox All-Star left fielder Jarren Duran, who reported inappropriate comments from a fan during a game in Cleveland. These events underscore the urgent need to address the toxic culture of online harassment in sports.

For those affected by similar issues, support is available through organizations such as Lifeline (13 11 14), Beyond Blue (1300 224 636)