Major League Baseball (MLB) Commissioner Rob Manfred says the league will not discipline San Francisco Giants players who put Bible verses on their customized Pride Night caps.
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The Daily Wire reports that Manfred, in a letter to U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) said that the league was simply enforcing existing rules after the MLB issued a warning to three San Francisco Giants players who he said violated the league’s uniform policy.
.@MLB Commissioner writes to me and admits they were wrong to threaten the Giants players over Bible verses and promises never to fine or discipline these players – or any players for their religious beliefs pic.twitter.com/rnPy2F7fyR
— Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) June 22, 2026
On Pride Night, San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Landen Roupp inscribed a passage from Genesis 9 on his cap in silver, placing it next to the rainbow logo.
Those verses describe God’s promise to Noah and all future generations that he would never again destroy the earth with a flood, with the rainbow serving as the sign of that covenant.
Shortly after the incident, MLB also issued a verbal warning advising players not to include Bible verses on their uniforms in the future.
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In response to the warnings, Sen. Hawley sent a letter to the league commissioner citing a “pattern of discrimination” and questioning MLB’s antitrust privileges, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
U.S. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon wrote in a letter to Manfred, “The Civil Rights Act prohibits MLB and its franchises from unreasonably burdening the rights of players with religious objections to serving as the League’s vehicle for pro-Pride messages.”
In his letter to Hawley, Manfred explained, “We understand that some players or other on-field personnel have not been comfortable wearing the pride emblem on their uniform based on their religious beliefs.”
The MLB Commissioner stated:
Unfortunately, this year the Giants’ communication with players was inadequate and not clear. Some players apparently did not understand that they had the option to wear their normal uniform and elected to add messages to their hats bearing the pride logo as a result.
Manfred assured Hawley, “The players were neither fined nor disciplined, nor will they ever be.”
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