Some people need to realize that sports are not a matter of life and death. After Los Angeles Dodgers reliever Tanner Scott blew a save on Saturday night against the Philadelphia Phillies, his wife took to social media to share a collection of death threats she received—including threats against her son and unborn child.
What Did the Threats Say?
Maddie Scott posted to her Instagram Story, sharing a screenshot of a message that read, “gun shot your family tonight.” She captioned the post: “When did it stop being a game?”
“I don’t speak out often. Ever actually,” she said. “I promise you, you don’t know what it’s like unless you’re living it.”
The expectant mother, who recently revealed she is having a daughter this fall, also shared a deluge of horrific comments from one user in particular. “The unfortunate reality in case you were curious,” she wrote in another post with a screenshot of six comments posted by the same user, hawk.3112090, over just a three-minute span on Saturday night.
“Hope this mutt d i e s soon,” the user commented on a photo of the Scotts’ son, Bo. “I hope you get home to your family lying in puddles of their own blood,” another comment read. “Hope it’s a still b i r t h,” the user also wrote.
What Happened During the Game?
Scott, who has pitched well so far this season, entered the game for the Dodgers in the eighth inning with a 3-1 lead. However, he first gave up an RBI single to Bryce Harper and then a two-run homer to Edmundo Sosa, putting the Phillies on top 4-3. The scoreline would hold, and Scott was credited with a blown save and a loss.
Is Tanner Scott a Good Pitcher?
After a mediocre 2025 season, his first in Los Angeles, Scott has bounced back with a 1-2 record and 2.19 ERA over 24.2 innings so far this season. Over his 10-year MLB career, he has a 33-30 record with 83 saves and a 3.64 ERA, along with 574 strikeouts over 450.1 innings. He began his career with the Orioles, playing five seasons in Baltimore before moving to the Marlins, Padres, and now the Dodgers. He made the 2024 All-Star team as a member of the Marlins.
The incident has sparked widespread condemnation, with many calling for better protection of athletes and their families from online harassment.
