New York Yankees fans are facing harsh criticism after threatening the wife and children of starting pitcher Carlos Rodon following his disappointing playoff start against the Kansas City Royals. The incident has cast a dark shadow over an already difficult postseason for Rodon and the Yankees.
Rodon, who signed a six-year, $162 million contract with the Yankees before the 2023 season, struggled in his Game 2 start of the American League Division Series (ALDS). He allowed four runs in just 3.2 innings, leading to a 4-2 loss to the Royals. While it’s not uncommon for fans to express frustration after such performances, the situation took a disturbing turn when some Yankees supporters directed their anger at Rodon’s family.
According to a report from Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News, Rodon’s wife, Ashley, received a series of terrifying direct messages on Instagram during the game. The messages, sent by anonymous users, included vile threats aimed at the couple’s children. One individual went so far as to threaten the children with rape while using a homophobic slur to insult Carlos. Another message chillingly stated, “someone will find your wife and kids,” accompanied by knife emojis.
Ashley Rodon, shaken by the threats, took to social media to speak out against the abuse and to share screenshots of the offensive messages.
“DM’s already willlllld. I love interacting with everyone, but there’s no place for this s—,” Ashley wrote in response to the horrifying messages.
In an interview with the Daily News, Ashley expressed how the attacks on her children were especially troubling. “The messages never bother me until someone starts to bring my kids into it,” she explained.
Carlos Rodon, who wasn’t aware of the threats until after the game, also spoke out about the ordeal, expressing disappointment in the actions of a few fans but making it clear that he didn’t believe this represented the broader Yankees fanbase.
“That’s wonderful,” he responded sarcastically when asked about the threats. “People are pretty disgusting at times. But I feel like that doesn’t explain Yankees fans. I don’t think that’s who they are. I understand that people get frustrated with the game. My message to fans all around is that we are human as well. We do make mistakes. We’re not always perfect. I’m, by far, not always perfect, and I understand frustration with performance.”
Rodon went on to emphasize that baseball, despite the intense emotions it can evoke, is ultimately just a game, and crossing the line by threatening players’ families is unacceptable. “Let’s not forget that this is ultimately just a game of baseball, and it doesn’t come down to hurting and sending out negative messages and threatening people’s families. Honestly, I feel for my wife, because our kids mean the world to us, and our family is really important to us.”
Beyond the baseball field, Carlos and Ashley Rodon are deeply involved in charitable work through the Carlos Rodon Foundation, which aims to make fertility treatments more accessible for women. Tragically, the threats Ashley received came in response to a post she had shared about their foundation’s work. The Rodons’ involvement in fertility advocacy is personal, as Ashley has suffered two miscarriages since their marriage in 2018. The couple now has three children together, making the threats aimed at their family even more painful.
The incident has sparked widespread condemnation of the abusive behavior exhibited by some fans. While sports can evoke passionate reactions, Rodon’s experience highlights the need for boundaries and respect for the personal lives of athletes and their families.
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