Dodgers Pitcher's Wife Confirms Threats Against Newborn Child After Loss to Phillies
The wife of Los Angeles Dodgers reliever Tanner Scott has confirmed that she and her husband received death threats directed at their newborn son following a blown save during a June 1 game against the Philadelphia Phillies. Maddie Scott reposted a series of vile comments on her Instagram account, including one that read, "Hope this mutt dies soon," alongside a photo of their child, and another that said, "I hope you get home to your family lying in puddles of their own blood."
Maddie Scott, who rarely speaks publicly, addressed the threats in a now-expired Instagram story captured by the New York Post. "When did it stop being a game?" she wrote. "I don't speak out often. Ever actually. I promise you, you don't know what it’s like unless you’re living it." The threats came after Scott surrendered three runs in the eighth inning, coughing up a 3-1 lead and ultimately taking his first loss of the season. The Dodgers fell 4-3 to the Phillies, snapping a six-game winning streak.
A Dark Twist in a Comeback Season
Tanner Scott entered the season as a key piece of the Dodgers' bullpen after signing a four-year, $72 million deal before the 2025 campaign. His first season with the team was a disaster, leading MLB with 10 blown saves and being left off the postseason roster. This year, however, he had rebounded admirably, posting a 12 ⅓-inning scoreless streak before the June 1 meltdown. Manager Dave Roberts acknowledged that Scott had been pitching well but struggled with command in high-leverage situations against powerful hitters like Bryce Harper and Edmundo Sosa.
Maddie Scott's decision to share the threats has drawn attention to the increasingly hostile environment athletes and their families face online. The Dodgers organization has not issued a formal statement, but security officials are reportedly reviewing the threats. The Los Angeles Police Department has not confirmed an investigation, but the case has been widely reported by outlets including Fox News and Heavy.com.
The Price of Fame in the Era of Legalized Gambling and Social Media
The threats against the Scott family are not an isolated incident. In the past year alone, several other MLB pitchers—including Liam Hendriks, Lance McCullers Jr., Tayler Saucedo, and Cam Schlittler—have reported receiving death threats directed at themselves or their families after poor outings. The trend has escalated dramatically since the 2018 Supreme Court decision that legalized sports gambling across the United States. Bettors who lose money on a player's performance often take their frustrations online, crossing lines that were once unthinkable.
When Fandom Turns to Harassment
For athletes like Tanner Scott, the stakes are incredibly high. A single blown save—a moment that would have been forgotten in pre-internet eras—can now trigger a torrent of abuse aimed at a player and his loved ones. The comments directed at Scott's newborn son represent a new low. As one user wrote, "I hope you get home to your family lying in puddles of their own blood." These messages are not just cruel; they are criminal threats that law enforcement could pursue.
The phenomenon extends beyond baseball. In the NBA, NFL, and NHL, players routinely receive similar threats after losses. But the accessibility of social media, combined with the anonymity it provides, has emboldened the worst elements of fandom. As the Los Angeles Times noted, death threats have become "disturbingly frequent." The Dodgers organization is reportedly considering enhanced security protocols for players and their families, but such measures address only the symptoms, not the root cause.
From Struggles to Redemption—and Back to Crisis
Tanner Scott's 2026 season has been a rollercoaster. After a disastrous 2025 campaign that saw him lose the closer role, Scott entered spring training with a renewed focus. He worked extensively on his command and mechanical consistency, and the results were immediate. By late May, he had a 2.35 ERA and had converted nine of ten save opportunities. His 12 ⅓-inning scoreless streak was the longest of his career.
On May 30, however, everything unraveled in a single inning. Facing the heart of the Phillies' lineup, Scott gave up a single to Justin Crawford on a low slider. After recording two outs, he walked Kyle Schwarber, then allowed an RBI single to Bryce Harper. The decisive blow came from Edmundo Sosa, who crushed a two-run home run on a fastball that Scott left over the plate. The pitcher admitted after the game, "Just a bad pitch."
The Human Cost of a Bad Night
While the loss was damaging to the Dodgers' momentum, it was the aftermath that proved far more consequential. Maddie Scott's Instagram post exposed the cruel reality of modern sports fandom: a single mistake on the field can lead to threats of violence against a family. For Tanner Scott, who had already endured a season of public ridicule and media scrutiny, this attack on his family may be the most painful blow of all.
The couple welcomed their first child earlier this year, a milestone that should have been a time of joy. Instead, they are now dealing with the emotional toll of having their baby targeted by strangers. The Los Angeles Dodgers released a statement condemning the threats and promising to support the Scott family. The organization is also working with Major League Baseball to identify the user who made the threats and pursue legal action if appropriate.
Broader Implications: What This Means for Sports Culture and Player Safety
The Tanner Scott incident underscores a growing crisis in professional sports: the intersection of legalized gambling, social media anonymity, and the erosion of basic human decency. When the Supreme Court struck down the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) in 2018, it opened the door for states to legalize sports betting. While that has generated billions of dollars in revenue, it has also created a culture where fans feel entitled to attack players when their bets lose.
A System That Enables Abuse
Unlike in-person harassment at stadiums, which can be policed by security, online abuse is notoriously difficult to track and prosecute. Platforms like Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), and Facebook have policies against hate speech and threats, but enforcement is inconsistent. The user who threatened the Scott family likely created a fake account, making identification challenging. This anonymity emboldens trolls who would never dream of making such statements in person.
Several sports organizations, including MLB, the NFL, and the NBA, have launched initiatives to combat online harassment. Yet the problem persists, partly because the punishment rarely fits the crime. In most cases, the worst an abuser faces is a temporary suspension from the platform. Criminal charges for online threats are rare, and when pursued, often result in light sentences.
The Path Forward
Maddie Scott's decision to go public may be a turning point. By sharing the threats, she has forced the conversation into the mainstream. Other athletes' spouses have expressed solidarity, and advocacy groups focused on mental health in sports have called for stronger protections. The Dodgers, for their part, have increased security for the Scott family and are working with MLB's player assistance program to provide counseling.
Some experts argue that the solution lies in education: teaching fans that athletes are human beings with families and feelings. Others push for stricter platform moderation and automated AI tools that can detect and remove threats before victims see them. Still others point to a need for cultural change, where sports wagering is treated as entertainment rather than an entitlement to success.
For now, Tanner Scott continues to pitch, but the scars of the incident may linger. As Maddie Scott wrote, "You don't know what it's like unless you're living it." The hope is that their courage in speaking out will spark a long-overdue reckoning. In the meantime, the Dodgers—and the entire baseball community—stand behind one of their own, even as the game reveals its darkest side. Read more about how the Dodgers have handled recent emotional turning points.
The Unseen Struggle: Mental Health in the Bullpen
Beyond the immediate safety concerns, the incident raises questions about the mental health support available to MLB players and their families. The relentless pressure of performing in front of millions, amplified by 24/7 social media scrutiny, takes a toll. Tanner Scott, like many relievers, operates in a high-stress role where one bad inning can overshadow months of success.
A Quiet Epidemic
While the league offers resources for players dealing with anxiety, depression, and anger—including a confidential 24/7 hotline—spouses often fall through the cracks. Maddie Scott's experience is a reminder that the family members of athletes are also victims of the toxic environment. They receive threats, see the abuse, and must manage the emotional fallout without the same institutional support.
Some teams, including the Dodgers, have begun providing mental health resources to players' families, but the practice is not yet universal. The Scott case may accelerate those efforts. As one anonymous Dodgers source told Heavy.com, "We need to step up. This isn't just about protecting the brand—it's about protecting people."
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