Rob Manfred has ruled that the San Francisco Giants botched communication around their annual Pride Night cap policy. In a letter to Missouri Republican Sen. Josh Hawley, the MLB commissioner stated that the club failed to properly explain to players that they were permitted to opt out of wearing the rainbow-themed caps.
Several Giants players, including starting pitcher Landen Roupp, wrote Bible verses on the themed caps — a move that triggered a league warning. Manfred noted that marking up the caps violates MLB's uniform policy, adding another layer to the controversy.
The episode raises questions about how clubs navigate player expression and league-mandated uniform policies. Hawley, who has been critical of corporate Pride initiatives, requested information about the incident from MLB.
The Giants have not yet publicly responded to Manfred's assessment. The league did not announce any disciplinary action beyond the warning issued to players who altered the caps.
"The Giants' guidance to players concerning their ability to choose not to wear the cap was not clear," Manfred wrote in his letter, according to copies obtained by multiple outlets. The commissioner did not specify whether further league-level policy changes are planned.