"I wish I could torture you to death": Boston Red Sox pitcher Garrett Whitlock targeted with violent DMs as wife Jordan exposes abuse

A serious issue in baseball came to light again this week. Garrett Whitlock, a relief pitcher for the Boston Red Sox, became the target of hateful messages on social media. His wife, Jordan Whitlock, decided to stretch her legs and expose the abuse.

In her Instagram stories, Jordan posted an image of the threats. Some of the language was disturbing and deeply personal. This brings up the point again of the alarming abuse players are receiving from fans, especially via social media, and that their families are now starting to feel it too.

Jordan Whitlock defends Garrett Whitlock after disturbing threats shared online

On June 26, 2025, Jordan Whitlock, wife of Red Sox pitcher Garrett Whitlock, posted Instagram stories showing angry and violent messages that her husband received in his direct messages. The screenshots showed fans using extreme words. One message said, “I wish I could torture you to death.” Another fan mentioned their son, wishing harm on the child.

The screenshot of the DMs went virally online fast, and it highlights how concerning online abuse from fans has gotten. Jordan tweeted the screenshot after seeing something like it happen towards another player, Ketel Marte of the Arizona Diamondbacks. Ketel Marte had a recent emotional episode during a game due to something insensitive that someone yelled at him about his deceased mother.

The video also went semi-viral, and is a clear example to show the emotional toll that someone yelling from the crowd or online interactions can take on players while they are competing.

Garrett Whitlock is one of many MLB players dealing with hate online

Garrett Whitlock is not alone. According to a recent report by The Athletic, 78.2% of 133 surveyed MLB players said sports betting has made fan behavior worse. Many fans now lose money when players don’t perform well, and they often take out their anger through hateful messages.Houston Astros pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. revealed last month that he was given personal security, paid for by the team’s owner, due to threats he received online. Red Sox teammate Liam Hendriks also confirmed he gets threats almost every day.Also Read: What Fan Said About Ketel Marte’s Dead Mother That Made Him Cry In Front Of Diamondbacks TeammatesGarrett Whitlock, 28, has pitched in 29 games for Boston this season, with a 3.60 ERA and 49 strikeouts in 40 innings. He is still playing, but in light of the recent coverage the focus seems to have been on how poorly some players are treated by people they don't even know.This is becoming a serious conversation inside baseball circles—one that might not be ignored much longer.