MLB issues warning to Giants pitchers for Bible verses printed on LGBTQ+ Pride Night caps

Major League Baseball has issued warnings to four San Francisco Giants pitchers after three players wrote Bible verses on their Pride Night caps and another wore an entirely different hat during the team’s annual celebration of the LGBTQ+ community.Starter Landen Roupp and relievers JT Brubaker and Ryan Walker took the field during Friday’s game against the Chicago Cubs with Bible verses written on their rainbow-themed Pride Night caps.The trio included the inscription “Gen 9:12-16,” a passage referencing God’s covenant with Noah and the rainbow as a sign of that promise.Left-hander Sam Hentges, meanwhile, opted to wear the Giants’ standard black cap with the orange “SF” logo instead of the Pride Night version.

MLB said the players violated the league’s uniform policy, which prohibits writing or displaying messages on apparel or playing equipment.“The writing on the cap violates our rules and consistent with normal practice we have warned the players about future violations,” MLB said in an initial statement.The league later clarified that the warning was procedural and unrelated to the content of the messages.“To be clear, this routine verbal warning not to wear the hat in future games is not disciplinary and had absolutely nothing to do with the content of the message,” MLB said Tuesday.“We respect players’ right to free expression.

However, writing of any kind, with any message, is prohibited.”MLB noted it has issued similar warnings in the past for messages referencing family members or holidays, including phrases such as “Dad” and “Happy Mother’s Day, I Love Mom.”After the game, Roupp said the Bible passage reflected his religious beliefs.“It’s just about God’s covenant and a promise that he makes to us that, you know, his faithfulness and his mercy,” Roupp told reporters when asked about the Bible passage.“That’s just kind of something I believe in, and I stand firm in that, and I’m thankful we live i...