“It’s about God’s [promise] that he makes to us,” Giants starter Landen Roupp said.
Major League Baseball has drawn a line in the sand: rainbow logos are fine, Bible verses are not. Three San Francisco Giants pitchers have reportedly been warned by the MLB after appearing during Friday night’s Pride Night game with Scripture references written on their caps, prompting a fresh round of questions about whether baseball’s diversity mantra extends to Christians who dissent from the league’s liberal social messaging.
Giants starter Landen Roupp appeared with “Genesis 9:12-16” written on his cap, the biblical passage describing God’s covenant symbolized by the rainbow. The inscription partially overlapped the Pride-themed rainbow “SF” logo featured on the special-edition cap. Relievers JT Brubaker and Ryan Walker also displayed Bible verses, while pitcher Sam Hentges opted to wear the club’s standard black cap rather than the Pride Night version.
MLB was not amused. “The writing on the cap violates our rules, and consistent with normal practice, we have warned the players about future violations,” MLB Chief Communications Officer Pat Courtney told The Athletic. Roupp, however, made clear he wasn’t backing away from the message.
“It’s just about God’s covenant and a promise that he makes to us,” Roupp told reporters. “That’s just kind of something I believe in, and I stand firm in that, and I’m thankful we live in a country where we have the freedom to believe what we want … and express what we want.”