Social Media Fuels Gambling Nightmares for MLB Stars — Yet One Twist Is Rewriting Their Lives

“I don’t want to say this, but something bad is going to happen and it’s going to be like, ‘We told you so,’” said a player anonymously earlier this year while speaking with The Athletic about gambling-related risks. Around the same time, MLB players communicated to the league’s security that it’s high time to clamp down on the gambling situation before it escalates further. Back in June, pitchers Lance McCullers Jr. and Liam Hendriks and their families received de–h threats. Sadly, it’s uglier and scarier than it appears on the surface.

It’s the option of coming out anonymously that has emboldened fans to routinely slide into players’ social media and remind them of the betting odds for that night’s game. The most horrifying comments arrive faceless and hidden behind nameless handles, as described by players.

This is the nightmare side of social media for our MLB stars. Yet, amid the ruthless, constant scrutiny, there’s an unexpected shift happening, which is redefining MLB players’ choices off the field. You all know that the bond between ball and booze dates back to the league’s earliest days.

Babe Ruth—the legend of the league was known for his beer consumption. A platter of pigs’ knuckles and a pitcher of beer would be his go-to, as revealed by Hall of Famer Ty Cobb. Moreover, it was hard to shake off how Yankees’ former legendary outfielder Mickey Mantle’s career was derailed due to alcohol abuse. However, MLB’s that era didn’t carry over into modern baseball, thankfully!

A striking trend has emerged after conversations with over 30 players, coaches, and front-office personnel. It’s that the MLB players are drinking way less than ever before. It hasn’t disappeared, but the culture as of today has surely evolved. A multi-time All-Star told Yahoo Sports recently, “It’s become a European style of drinking, where it’s like, ‘I’m gonna have something to enjoy it.’ It’s not to get drunk, go out, f—-ing raise hell because, like, you can’t do that. You hear the stories, but you can’t do that. You just can’t.” The MLB players just can’t afford the trade-off. It’s as simple as that. The competition in the league currently is tougher than ever. From faster pitching to harder hitting and greater scrutiny is the mantra.

A common thread for all was how the level of competition has increased in comparison to previous eras. Except for that, while some pointed at the omnipresence of social media and the unease of consuming alcohol as public figures, others emphasized preferring alternatives to drinking, which are now both legal and available.

In the current era, to give you an example, the Mets return to their locker room to a small bottle of tart cherry juice and not that fridge always stocked with beer. It has become more common around the league to witness them chugging down a cherry juice or a protein shake than to see them sip a beer or whiskey.

Chilling at a bar or club is practically nonexistent for the MLB stars

Current MLB players, including those who played in Derek Jeter’s era, say the culture of going out to chill has shifted. One multi-time All-Star opened up about the change by showing his phone: “These,” he said. “Everybody has these.” He meant the constant cameras and social media scrutiny that follow players everywhere they go.

In fact, a prominent All-Star also shared an intriguing story from a playoff celebration. “We went out as a group; somebody set up a table somewhere. It was fun because all of us were together. But the other people that were around, with their phones, recording us—it was pretty bothersome.” Consequently, the MLB players simply made their peace with not ever going to clubs or bars. A Gallup poll showed last month that only 54% of American adults drink alcohol. That itself speaks a lot.

For the record, ‘going out to a bar or club is nonexistent’ is especially true for big-budget team players. Such as the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers. The era is long gone when Derek Jeter used to dominate headlines for wild nightlife.

MLB stars lately prefer keeping a low profile. They wouldn’t risk doing anything that could attract media attention. When Paul Skenes made an appearance at a bar in Omaha during the College World Series back in June, he just sipped on water. That’s all. Meanwhile, big names like Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani are both busy with their newborns. Ohtani, especially, is renowned for his dedication to a regimented sleep routine.

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