MLB warns players to not to deface uniforms in wake of silent Pride Night protest

U.S. newsMLB warns players to not to deface uniforms in wake of silent Pride Night protestThe edict came after four San Francisco Giants players openly defied the team’s Pride Night.Listen to this article with a free account00:0000:00Landen Roupp #65 of the San Francisco Giants pitches against the Chicago Cubs in the top of the first inning of a major league baseball game at Oracle Park on June 12 in San Francisco.Thearon W. Henderson / Getty ImagesShareAdd NBC News to GoogleJune 16, 2026, 5:00 PM EDTBy Lilia Wood and David K. LiMajor League Baseball warned players on Tuesday not to deface uniforms in the wake of several members of the San Francisco Giants openly defying their team’s Pride Night event.Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.The Giants held their annual celebration of the LGBTQ+ community on Friday at Oracle Park when losing pitcher Landen Roupp and relievers JT Brubaker and Ryan Walker wrote the Bible verse “Gen 9:12-16” on their caps, which featured the “SF” logo in rainbow colors. The Book of Genesis has become favorite citation for opponents of gay rights.Giants reliever Sam Hentges refused to wear the rainbow Giants cap altogether on Friday.“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. We respect players’ right to free expression,” according to an MLB statement.“However, writing of any kind, with any message, is prohibited per Major League Baseball’s Uniform Regulations which provides in part that, ‘[a] Player may not write, attach, affix, embroider or otherwise display nicknames or messages on apparel or playing equipment…”MLB said the warning had no direct tie to the players’ actions on Pride Night.“We have given the same warning numerous times in the past to players for messages such as ‘Dad’, ‘Happy Mother’s Day, I Love Mom’ and names of family members,’ ” the MLB sa...