MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred told Sen. Josh Hawley the San Francisco Giants pitchers who wrote Bible verses on their Pride Night hats will never face fines or discipline for their faith.
The commissioner’s admission came in a letter dated June 19, published Monday by Hawley on X.
Manfred revealed the league issued “a routine oral warning” to the Giants pitchers after they added Scripture to hats featuring the team’s Pride logo. But the warning came before MLB learned San Francisco failed to clearly inform players they could wear standard caps instead.
“The players were neither fined nor disciplined, nor will they ever be.”
At least one Giants player opted out of the Pride Night cap entirely. Relief pitcher Sam Hentges wore the franchise’s standard hat during the game instead of the Pride edition.
.@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
Hawley characterized Manfred’s response as MLB admitting the league was “wrong to threaten the Giants players over Bible verses.”
The Missouri Republican sent Manfred a letter June 16 demanding answers on why the league warned pitchers for “publicly expressing their Christian faith” during Pride Night.
The controversy escalated when Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon announced the Justice Department referred the case to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Dhillon argued MLB’s handling raised concerns about religious discrimination.
