ATLANTA — Major League Baseball issued a warning to the three San Francisco Giants players who wrote Bible verses on their Pride hats last Friday.
The warning was sent to Landen Roupp, JT Brubaker and Ryan Walker about future violations of the league’s uniform policy, which says that players cannot alter their uniforms. Sam Hentges, a fourth pitcher, opted out of wearing the Pride hat for the typical black and orange one.
“The writing on the cap violates our rules and consistent with normal practice we have warned the players about future violations,” MLB said in the statement.
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“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. 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….’ 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.”
A first violation draws a warning from MLB. A second violation would mean a $1,000 fine and a third goes up to a $5,000 fine, per baseball’s collective bargaining agreement.
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News of the league’s perfunctory warning took off on social media among political figures. Conservative leaders argued the warning oppresses the players’ speech, while left-leaning politicians pushed back at their claims as homophobic. The Giants’ pitchers’ protest has turned into a new front in the nation’s political culture wars online.
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Vice President JD Vance posted on X, “Trump won, we don’t have to do this anymore” in response to a Sports Illustrated post about MLB’s warning. California state Sen. Scott Wiener, a San Francisco Democrat running for Nancy Pelosi’s seat in Congress, issued a response:
“Yes we do since in San Francisco, unlike in the White House, we treat LGBTQ people as full human beings & we think bigotry is bad. Perhaps go back into your cave for a minute to chill out,” Wiener wrote on X.
Manager Tony Vitello was asked before Tuesday’s game in Atlanta his reaction to MLB’s warning and whether he addressed it within the clubhouse.
“I didn’t know anything about it until Mike (Passanisi, a Giants media relations representative) let me know before I came out here about it,” Vitello said on Tuesday. “I know those MLB Network guys well and keep in touch with them, but I don’t watch much of the MLB Network at all.”
It is unclear what Vitello meant with his observation about the MLB Network, which plays no role in major league disciplinary issues.
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The Giants released a statement in the wake of Friday’s protest by the four pitchers.
“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,” the team wrote. “We also respect that individuals may make personal choices about participating in team activations.
“We understand the choice by individual players has 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.”
What do you think about some Giants players choosing not to wear or altering the team’s Pride Night caps?
During the Giants’ Pride Night celebration, some players chose not to wear the team’s special Pride caps, while others wore caps with Bible verses written on them.
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John
Santa Cruz, CA
06/17/26
Regardless of the message, it is, and should be, completely against league policy for players to ‘adorn’ their uniforms in any way. Imagine what could happen if that was not a non-negotiable policy. Why is the VP weighing in, saying that important rules in sports shouldn’t apply? Rhetorical question: clearly just a culture war message.
Bill
San Francisco, CA
06/17/26
Posey and Vitello have to go. Not only is Posey a really bad decision-maker, starting with the stupid Devers trade, neither one of them has any administrative or managerial instinct for this town or any other town. You were a pretty good catcher, Buster, but time to go. Most of us San Franciscans liked Timmy, Hunter, even the Beard, cuz they’re more like us. Wake up, Giants!
Leanna
San Francisco, CA
06/17/26
The uniform of the day is just that. I was a Sergeant in the SFPD and we often were told to wear specific uniforms and that was that. These players are paid a lot of money and choose to play baseball. SF is a City that supports the LGBTQ+ community and so do the Giants. Why haven’t we seen a statement from Posey and an apology from these players?
Dan
San Francisco, CA
06/17/26
This public display of bigotry reflects poorly on the individuals and, by extension, the organization. Management (clubhouse and front office) should have required players to follow mlb rules and wear the team uniform, and they should have made clear that, regardless of their individual beliefs, the organization believes in celebrating inclusion and acceptance of the LGBTQ+ community. If a player can’t accept that, then give that player a night off and fine them instead of letting them detract from the celebration with their defaced hats. If that would thin the ranks of the bullpen too much, I’m sure some of those players can be optioned. The Giants need to come out with a much stronger statement, including an apology and commitment to continue to promote future pride nights. All signs point to Vitello letting this happen, so he should be fired. If Posey was complicit, he should resign. I’ve cancelled my giants.tv subscription and will not attend games until that happens.
Ira
Windsor, CO
06/17/26
Totally disappointed in the Chronicle’s comments and I am going to cancel my subscription because of your uncalled for berating of these players and calling them names. The author of this article should be fired. The headline of your article is totally mean and unnecessary.

Major League Baseball warned players this week not to deface uniforms after several members of the San Francisco Giants openly defied their team’s Pride Night event.
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 a favorite citation for opponents of gay rights.
Giants reliever Sam Hentges refused to wear the rainbow Giants cap 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,” an MLB statement said.
“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,’” the statement said.
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,’” MLB said.
Some Republicans, including Vice President JD Vance and U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley, were quick to defend the players.
“What does MLB think it’s doing penalizing players for their Christian faith?” Hawley said in a post on X. “They owe us some answers. Right now.”
Vance also weighed in.
“Trump won we don’t have to do this anymore,” the vice president posted on X.
Beloved Giants broadcaster Mike Krukow urged the players to understand how their actions could offend the San Francisco community.
“I think that you have the right as a player to believe and say whatever you want,” Krukow told the San Francisco Chronicle. “But you have to take a broader look at the city you’re playing in. What makes San Francisco so great is the acceptance of others — ethnicities, opinions, cultures — and that extends to the gay community.”
San Francisco has long been a hub of gay culture with about 16% of the city identifying as LGBTQ+. The team’s annual “Until There’s a Cure Day” dates back to 1994, which marked the first time a pro sports team held a benefit to fight AIDS.

West Wilson reportedly tried to get Lindsay Hubbard, Kyle Cooke and Carl Radke fired from “Summer House” — which allegedly led to him not being asked back for Season 11.
However, a rep for Wilson told Page Six that the accusation is “categorically false.”
The source claimed to US weekly on Tuesday that the podcaster, 31, “told producers that Lindsay shouldn’t film pregnant and being a new mom because it’s a show about singles and having fun in the summer.”
In 2024, Hubbard, 39, welcomed daughter Gemma with now-ex-boyfriend Turner Kufe.
The insider added, “Amanda [Batula] knew about that and Lindsay was pissed.”
Meanwhile, Wilson allegedly tried to make Cooke, 43, and Radke, 41, “look bad” by secretly telling producers that the reality show “would be better with him and new friends.”
Cooke, Hubbard, and Radke are part of the original “Summer House” cast, with Batula, 34, joining as Cooke’s “girlfriend” during Season 1.
The swimwear designer was then upgraded to a full-time cast member.
Wilson joined the group in Season 8.
The insider added that “his goal was to be with Amanda and then just film with his friends.”
The sports commentator not showing his personal life and “dating other women who no one knew about,” also led to his departure.
Wilson and Batula started dating shortly after the influencer separated from Cooke in January after four years of marriage.
Batula’s ex-bestie Ciara Miller, 30, also dated Wilson for several months in 2023. The former flames even shared a kiss during Season 10.
Wilson was also actively dating Meija Moreno when his relationship with Batula was exposed.
The source claimed that Hubbard and Cooke have “joked” that Wilson and Batula “are not going to last.”
But the insider told the outler that the couple is “still fully committed to each other.”
Page Six reached out to reps for Cooke, Hubbard and Radke.
However, a second source alleged that “it was a mutual decision between the network and West.”
They noted that the Complex journalist felt that his “time on the show was coming to end” going into the Season 10 reunion.
“It became even clearer that there wasn’t a long-term fit anymore,” the insider continued, insisting that Wilson is “at peace” with the outcome.
The social media personality is now focused “on his podcast and other business ventures.”
The source explained that due to Batula and Wilson’s bombshell romance, “there’s a tear in the friend group.”
Wilson and Batula came under fire during the dramatic three-part Season 10 reunion for lying about their relationship to everyone in the group.
“The cast doesn’t want to film with him,” the insider continued to Us, noting that Batula is “still friendly” with Season 8’s Jesse Solomon, 33, and her estranged husband.
As of now, the rest of the cast is not “speaking with Batula,” with the insider expressing that her future on the show is “up in the air.”
On Monday, Hubbard took to Threads to detail her grievances with Wilson.
“West has tried to threaten my career / show now 3 times and it’s quite frankly, disgusting. No other word to describe it,” she penned.
Hubbard referenced the time Wilson publicly said on his “Show Me Something” podcast that there was “no way” she could return post-baby.
Now, a week after the reunion wrapped, fans will get a look into the fallout on Tuesday, with a bonus episode.
“Summer House: The Aftermath” — which airs at 8 p.m. ET on Bravo — will feature a sit-down between Wilson and Cooke and Batula and Hubbard, among other cast members.

Now that L’Affaire Sorsby is over for college athletics, and Brendan, the would-be Texas Tech quarterback, is attempting to enter the NFL supplemental draft, perhaps something positive can still come of this.
(Other than billable hours for white-shoe law firms, of course.)
Namely, college athletics needs to get local judges and their temporary injunctions out of the game.
Brendan Sorsby’s college career should have been over the moment he acknowledged he bet some 9,000 times on sports, including about 40 on Indiana while a member of the football program. These were clear violations of NCAA statutes and precedents. Banishment was the appropriate punishment.
Open. Shut.
Except along came a Texas judge, Ken Curry, who decided to buy Sorsby’s Hail Mary legal argument that he should get to play this season anyway.
Sorsby’s case centered on how he suffered from a gambling addiction and how any punishment would adversely impact his mental health. Therefore, he deserved a restraining order to keep playing until he got his day in court … which, of course, wouldn’t occur until after he exhausted his eligibility.
Curry’s decision to grant Sorsby’s injunction last week left the NCAA as the only sports governing organization on earth prohibited from enforcing anti-gambling and integrity rules.
The entire world — let alone all of college athletics — was on one side of this issue. A single judge on the other.
Yet the judge is the one who counted. In a likely tell about how illogical even he knew this was, Curry never provided a specific explanation as to what he liked about Sorsby’s argument.
In the end, it didn’t matter.
Sorsby’s victory began unraveling late last week when Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton stepped in and threatened legal action against the Big 12 if it tried to punish Sorsby itself via the league’s own bylaws.
That opened the door for the Big 12 to bring in the high-powered law firm of Sidley Austin (whose past lawyers include Barack Obama and J.D. Vance). On Monday, it petitioned a federal judge for injunctive relief against Paxton and a declaratory judgement that, yes, it was allowed to enforce its long agreed upon rules.
The chances of it succeeding were considered high, which would have left Sorsby open to future suspension or other punishments. For both the player and the program, the uncertainty was too great. By Monday evening, Sorsby gave up.
All’s well that ends well, apparently, but what college sports needs to do in this moment is to seize the collective opposition here — even if some of it was plagued by grandstanding — to push the federal government to put an end (as much as possible) to governance by local courts.
The days of a conference having to ask federal judges for the right to enforce its integrity bylaws need to end.
Nor should every player, coach or school be able to win injunctions against nearly any decision they don’t happen to like.
College sports are plagued by judicial governance. Extra seasons of eligibility. Two-week temporary restraining orders. Midseason Euroleague player acquisitions. These days you don’t just need to recruit a five-star quarterback, you need a five-star judge.
The plaintiffs don’t even have to actually win their cases, they just have to convince a judge they have a case and that holding them out of competition while the process drags would cause irreparable harm.
It’s a lower bar to clear. By the time the actual case is set to be tried, the season is over and the filing is dropped. It’s a dishonest workaround that’s causing chaos.
College sports is now unable to determine who can play and for how long, or even whether it can enforce basic standards on the third-rail issues such as sports wagering.
There are currently multiple efforts in Congress designed to “save” college sports or “preserve” college sports. They are sprawling bills, complicated and filled with pet projects and straw man arguments. As such, none of them stand much of a chance.
As the battle for sweeping reform churns on, college sports needs to push for a so-called skinny bill designed to address the items that almost everyone agrees on: mainly eligibility and enforcement free from judicial interference.
Until that is handled, this is a rudderless ship constantly trying to navigate a parade of storms.
Drafting such common-sense legislation might not be foolproof, but it is critical to try. It would receive widespread, if not unanimous, support inside college athletics and arrive on the floor for a vote not just bipartisan but nonpartisan.
College sports’ issues are myriad. There’s a lot to sort out.
Sidelining the Judge Ken Currys of the world should be step one.

Alex Pereira fell short in a seemingly impossible conquest to become UFC’s first three-division champion. A second-round TKO loss to Ciryl Gane at UFC Freedom 250 crushed those hopes, but the path there has Pereira irate. “Poatan” condemned potential illegal strikes from Gane that preceded the finish, with much of his anger directed towards referee Herb Dean.
Gane stopped Pereira early in Round 2 after a stiff jab dropped the former middleweight and light heavyweight champion. From there, Gane unleashed ground strikes — several of which appeared to strike the back of the head — before finishing him on the feet. Pereira bemoaned Gane aggressively pursuing the finish at the expense of fair play.
“It was a lucky jab,” Pereira said in a YouTube video, though he took no issue with the strike that dropped him. “He took advantage and started landing heavier shots.”
“He’s desperate. He threw a shot he didn’t even believe in, and he wanted to finish the fight whatever way. He always does that. In multiple fights, if you look at his highlights, that’s what you’ll see all the time.”
Gane has developed a reputation as a dirty fighter among the MMA fanbase. He rejected that label in a pre-fight interview with CBS Sports, but his complicated legacy took another hit on Sunday. Pereira came into the fight conscious of illegal strikes headed his way. Even Sean O’Malley said on Sunday that he was in the training room with Pereira when he was discussing potential illegal strikes from Gane.
“You know what’s funny, in the rules meeting when Pereira was talking to the ref,” O’Malley said. “They were having the translator go over back of the head.”
Pereira, the former two-division champion, had some sympathy for eye pokes and groin strikes, things that can happen by accident in a dynamic exchange. However, he sees no way to forgive strikes to the back of the head.
“I was getting up, and it became difficult to recover,” Pereira said. “I believe if it wasn’t for those shots, I’d be in that situation and could’ve possibly recovered. Maybe not, but those shots were very hard and illegal.”
“A punch to the back of the head — you’re right there, man. You have to be seeing it,” he mentioned earlier in the video. “That was the opportunity of a lifetime for him, and the referee was right there to see it.”
The Unified Rules of MMA ban strikes to the back of the head and spine. The illegal target zone is defined as “the area starting at the crown of the head and running directly down the centerline of the head with a one-inch variance to each side.”
Pereira claims he approached Dean with his concerns before the fight. Plino Cruz, Pereira’s coach, served as an interpreter between Pereira and Dean.
“The referee who was working my fight called his colleague over, another referee,” Pereira said. “He used him as an example to explain where the back of the head is, where you can hit, and where you can’t.”
Pereira was incredibly frustrated with Dean’s officiating. Often revered for his stoicism, Pereira had a scathing assessment of Dean’s character.
“A guy like that, he goes out, drinks his beer or drinks his seltzer water, or whatever. He gets together with his friends. If he has kids or a nephew, I think that, no, I’m certain, that they look at that ref and say, ‘He’s a coward.’ But they’re his friends, they won’t say that to him. But they think it, ‘He’s a coward.’ Because he was a coward,” Pereira said.
Pereira believes Dean failed to keep the fight clean and the fighters safe. He called for Dean to be punished or face legal action for his failure to do his job well.
“He is not a man. He shouldn’t have been refereeing that fight,” Pereira said. “To be honest, a guy like that should be punished. It’s a very serious job and a very serious event. What happened? The ref should’ve faced legal consequences for that.”
Commission accountability is an issue that’s plagued MMA for as long as it’s been regulated. Results are rarely overturned, while judges and referees are seldom punished for poor calls or made available for comment. After his loss at UFC Freedom 250, Pereira called for fighters to unite and make referees liable.
“This will only change when fighters come together to push out referees who continue making mistakes like this,” Pereira said. ” Let’s make sure this doesn’t happen to you. We have the power to make it happen!”