MLB warns Giants players who wrote Bible verses on Pride Night caps they could face 'future violations'
Numerous San Francisco Giants pitchers faced criticism after inscribing Bible verses on their caps during the team’s annual Pride Night on Friday. Now, MLB is cracking down on the practice, warning those players they could face “future violations” for writing on their uniforms.
MLB chief communications officer Pat Courtney issued a statement to multiple outlets Monday explaining that policy is “consistent with normal practice.”
“The writing on the cap violates our rules, and consistent with normal practice, we have warned the players about future violations.”
Starter Landen Roupp, as well as JT Brubaker and Ryan Walker, all took the field with Bible verses written on their caps on Pride Night. Another reliever Sam Hentges took the field wearing the team’s traditional cap instead of the rainbow-colored cap worn by most other players on the team during the game.
It’s unclear if Hentges was warned, though his tactic may have also been a direct violation of MLB rules, which state, “No player whose uniform does not conform to that of his teammates shall be permitted to participate in a game.”
Hentges was allowed to pitch in the contest, a 5-1 loss to the Chicago Cubs.
A day after the contest, the Giants put out a statement addressing the “pain and anger” those players caused with their actions, per ESPN.
“The San Francisco Giants are proud to support Pride Night and the LGBTQ+ community. Baseball should be a place where everyone feels welcome, respected, and valued. We also respect that individuals may make personal choices about participating in team activations.
“We understand that the choices by individual players have caused pain and anger to many in the LGBTQ+ community and we are sorry for that. Those choices do not change our organization’s commitment to inclusion, belonging, and creating a welcoming environment for all. We remain grateful to our fans, partners, employees, players, and coaches who help make Pride Night a meaningful celebration.”
The Giants stressed that those decisions “do not change our organization’s commitment to inclusion, belonging, and creating a welcoming environment for all.”
The Giants lost two of three games to the Cubs during the series. Entering play Tuesday, San Francisco sits at 29-43, good for fourth place in the National League West.
