Liam Hendriks Condemns Social Media Threats Against Him and Wife

Red Sox reliever Liam Hendriks recently jumped onto social media to call out the disturbing online harassment aimed at him and his family. This all came after a rough outing where fans criticized his performance.

The situation shines a light on the growing issue of online abuse targeting athletes. It’s hard to ignore the toll this takes on their mental health. The Red Sox organization has publicly backed Hendriks, making it clear they want respect on and off the field.

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The Incident: Online Harassment and Personal Threats

Just a day after a tough loss, Hendriks posted a raw message to his Instagram story. He condemned the threats sent to him and his wife.

Hendriks, who’s fought through non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and Tommy John surgery, was clearly frustrated. People were sending him vile messages, urging him to commit suicide and wishing he’d died from cancer. He didn’t hold back—he called this behavior unacceptable and urged those responsible to rethink their actions.

Red Sox’s Response to Online Harassment

The Red Sox quickly responded. They voiced their own frustration over the abuse Hendriks and other players have faced online.

The team pointed to their ongoing efforts: blocking and reporting abusive accounts, working with MLB cybersecurity, and involving law enforcement when things get serious. Baseball, they said, is built on respect, and that standard should apply everywhere—online included.

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Liam Hendriks’ Journey: Overcoming Adversity

Hendriks’ story is honestly pretty inspiring. He battled non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 2022 and 2023, then fought his way back to the majors mid-2023.

But his comeback didn’t last. He tore his ulnar collateral ligament, needed Tommy John surgery, and missed the rest of 2023 and all of 2024. Even so, Hendriks made it back to the big leagues in April 2025, determined as ever.

Challenges on the Field

His recent outings have stirred up debate. Hendriks has openly voiced frustration about how and when he’s being used, hinting he wants to pitch in bigger moments.

Against the Mets, he entered a 1-1 game in the sixth and struck out both batters. But the seventh inning unraveled—three straight hits, pulled with the bases loaded and nobody out. All three runners eventually scored. Hendriks took the loss, and his ERA jumped to 5.56. Still, he’s sticking with it, aiming to prove himself again.

The Broader Issue: Mental Health and Athlete Welfare

This kind of harassment isn’t unique to Hendriks. Players across the league have shared similar stories, and it’s becoming a serious concern.

Jarren Duran, for example, opened up in the Netflix documentary The Clubhouse. He said fan criticism made his mental health spiral, and he even attempted suicide during the 2022 season. Stuff like this really highlights how important it is to support athletes’ mental health.

Red Sox’s Commitment to Player Welfare

The Red Sox have tried to stay ahead of the problem. They talk with players regularly about online harassment and have put protections in place.

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There’s a strict code of conduct at Fenway Park, and they expect the same behavior online. The team works with MLB cybersecurity and law enforcement to handle the worst cases. Fostering a respectful, supportive environment for players isn’t just a box to check—it’s something they seem to take seriously.

Conclusion: A Call for Change

The incident with Liam Hendriks really shines a light on what athletes go through, both in the spotlight and behind the scenes. Online harassment and threats aimed at Hendriks and his family just cross the line—no one should have to deal with that.

The Red Sox have stepped up and shown they’re serious about tackling these problems. Still, there’s a lot left to do if we want to truly protect athletes and talk more openly about mental health.

Fans sometimes forget that athletes are just people, too. They feel pressure, joy, disappointment—everything the rest of us do. Maybe it’s time to rethink how we treat them, both online and off, and ask ourselves if we’re helping or hurting the culture around sports.

For more on this story, check out the Boston Globe.

Joe Hughes is the founder of CollegeNetWorth.com, a comprehensive resource on college athletes' earnings potential in the NIL era. Combining his passion for sports with expertise in collegiate athletics, Joe provides valuable insights for athletes, fans, and institutions navigating this new landscape.

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