Major League Baseball issued three pitchers with the San Francisco Giants a warning after they appeared at a June 12, 2026 baseball game against the Chicago Cubs with Bible verses written on their Pride Night caps. The league told the pitchers that the behavior they exhibited during the game would not be tolerated in the future.
Landen Roupp, a right-handed pitcher, started the game on Friday. Written on his cap was “Gen 9:12-16″ in white lettering. The verse did not sit well with MLB chief communications officer Pat Courtney who told The Atlantic, “The writing on the cap violates our rules, and consistent with normal practice, we have warned the players about future violations.”
Along with Roupp, two of the team’s relief pitchers, JT Brubaker and Ryan Walker, also pitched in the game while sporting Bible verses on their caps. Reliever Sam Hentges opted to not wear the Pride Night cap at all, wearing the team’s standard black and orange rather than the one with the rainbow logo. Roupp was later asked about his choice to write a Bible verse on his cap during a postgame media address.
According to a report from Sports Illustrated, Roupp said, “It’s just about God’s covenant and a promise that he makes to us that, you know, his faithfulness and his mercy… 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, you know, we have the freedom to believe what we want … and express what we want.”
For those who are curious or unfamiliar with the Genesis 9:12-16 passage, it reads, “And God said, ‘This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life. Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.'”
Roupp went on to pitch 4 2/3 innings in the game, which the Giants ultimately lost to the Cubs. He gave up four runs, four hits, and two walks, but struck out five batters. Reporters at the postgame press event asked Giants manager Tony Vitello if he talked with the pitchers about the situation before the game. His answer will likely upset the sport’s left-leaning fans.
“Not really. I mean, just kind of a general knowledge of the individuals have the freedom to do what they think is best. But I do think it’s been apparent from day one, actually, even some of the exhibition games, it’s pretty impressive how the Giants, as an organization, try and embrace the entire community,” Vitello went on to say, via The Athletic.
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The Giants themselves put out a statement concerning the caps the day after the game, saying, “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,” it added.
Featured Image: screenshot from embedded video