Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier issued a subpoena to Major League Baseball on Friday after it threatened to punish Christian players for writing Bible verses on their Pride Night caps last week.The sports organization claims the actions of the three San Francisco Giants pitchers violated its uniform rules, but Uthmeier argues that the league has been “selectively enforcing” its own rules.“Players who promote secular messages get a pass, while players who promote religious messages get a reprimand,” he wrote in a letter to MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred. “If this pattern or practice of religious discrimination is true, then it could amount to a de facto League policy, which would violate Florida law. My office will not tolerate religious discrimination against any players in Florida.”
His office pointed to the league’s past permission of social justice messaging in 2020 when Black Lives Matter saw nationwide support following the death of George Floyd. That year, MLB launched a social justice initiative, called United for Change, that sought to combat systemic racism. At the time, certain teams wore BLM patches and stenciled the BLM logo onto the pitcher’s mounds.But when three pitchers etched “Gen 9:12-16” on their pride hats during a game last week, MLB warned them about future violations. The Bible verse refers to when God made the rainbow as a sign of His covenant with Noah and all living creatures in the Jewish and Christian traditions.San Francisco Giants pitcher Landen Roupp waits for the sign during the first inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs with “Gen 9:12-16” written on his hat Friday, June 12, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Scott Marshall)
