MLB Warns Giants Players Over Bible Verses on Pride
Get the Sports newsletter
Daily sports — scores, transfers, the storylines from the leagues you actually follow. Free.
- MLB warned San Francisco Giants players that writing on team-issued Pride Night hats violates league rules, with chief communications officer Pat Courtney saying the organization has "warned the players about future violations."
- Landen Roupp started Friday's game against the Cubs with "Gen 9:12-16" on his cap, pitching 4⅔ innings in the 5-1 loss and telling reporters "there's no hate at all" but that he stands firm in his beliefs and would push critics to "read the Bible."
- JT Brubaker and Ryan Walker also took the mound with Bible verses on their hats, while reliever Sam Hentges opted out entirely — wearing San Francisco's traditional black cap with orange lettering and telling reporters the next day he "was forced to support when I don't morally support it" but "don't hate the LGBTQ community."
- Tony Vitello, in his first season managing the Giants, defended his pitchers' choices by pointing to individuals' "freedom to do what they think is best" while also saying it's been "pretty impressive how the Giants, as an organization, try and embrace the entire community."
- The San Francisco Giants, who first added Pride elements to uniforms in 2021, issued a statement the day after the loss reaffirming their commitment to Pride Night, apologizing for the "pain and anger" caused by the players' choices, and acknowledging that "individuals may make personal choices about participating in team activations."
Why it matters: The Giants' organizational statement walks a careful line — reaffirming Pride Night commitment, apologizing for hurt caused, and simultaneously defending players' personal choices — while MLB has now drawn a formal line that future on-hat personalization of Pride gear will draw warnings, creating a new precedent for league-issued identity nights.
