Sen. Josh Hawley v. Major League Baseball

Sen. Josh Hawley is on the warpath after baseball players were targeted for their Christian faith, and Major League Baseball is not going to like what is coming next. 

Here's why MLB is worried.

Be informed, not misled.

A couple of days ago, several conservative news sources mentioned in passing what happened in San Francisco this past Friday after a disgraceful MLB warning was issued in the aftermath of three San Francisco Giants baseball players (pitcher Landen Roupp, along with relievers J.T. Brubaker and Ryan Walker) who refused to bend the knee to "Pride Night" by writing Bible verses on their rainbow-themed hats during their Friday game against the Chicago Cubs.

These were "Bible verses, mind you, that explain the true symbolism of the rainbow—God's covenant with Noah, his descendants, and every living creature after the great flood." The verses were Genesis 9:12-16:

And God said, This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations: I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth. And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud: and I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh. And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth.

Well, that didn't fit the narrative Major League Baseball had in mind for the game. MLB planned to celebrate homosexuality, not God.

Monday, MLB issued a warning. The Monday warning stated:

"The writing on the cap violates our rules, and consistent with normal practice, we have warned the players about future violations." In a follow-up statement, they pretended they weren't issuing the warning because they didn't like the Christian message. "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." 

Sure.

Of course.

As you might imagine, this has really ticked off a big chunk of the MLB's fan base, among them being Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO). 

He immediately wrote a letter  demanding answers from MLB officials and hinted that a public congressional hearing might be in order to air out all the dirty laundry so that fans can see exactly what they're up to. 

Via Sen. Hawley's website:

Tuesday, June 16, 2026

WASHINGTON — Today, U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) sent a letter to Major League Baseball (MLB) Commissioner Robert Manfred in response to the MLB’s warning to San Francisco Giants pitchers for referencing Bible verses on their caps during the team’s “Pride Night.” Senator Hawley is demanding MLB answer for its apparent pattern of discriminating against Christians while promoting left-wing ideologies. 

Senator Hawley wrote, “I write with grave concern over your reported decision to issue a formal warning to three Major League Baseball (MLB) players for publicly expressing their Christian faith. This follows a high-profile undercover investigation that revealed at least one MLB team discriminated against a player based on his Catholic faith. You must answer for what appears to be a pattern of discrimination within MLB against baseball players who profess their Christian faith.”

“At a recent baseball game, multiple pitchers for the San Francisco Giants wrote Bible verse references on their caps at a game where players were issued rainbow-patterned hats for “Pride Night.” These verses quote from Genesis 9, which describes God’s design of the rainbow as a sign of His covenant with creation following the flood. For this, your organization has reportedly issued warnings to these players. MLB has said this is a content-neutral policy and that MLB “respect[s] players’ right to free expression.” But this is dubious, given that MLB is openly promoting a political viewpoint and possibly compelling adherence to that viewpoint,” he continued. 

The Senator said, “The league’s claim that it merely forbids '"writing of any kind' on its uniforms does not survive a cursory review of the league’s recent history. In 2020, MLB itself turned its uniforms and its fields into a billboard for political and social messages. It created jersey patches reading “Black Lives Matter” and “United for Change.” It authorized “BLM” to be stenciled onto pitching mounds. And it suspended its own equipment rules so that players could display progressive political slogans on their cleats. The league went beyond tolerating speech—it designed speech, promoted speech, and shoehorned social and political messages into the game broadcast to millions of Americans. Yet when three players added a handful of characters citing the Book of Genesis to their caps, the league reached for its rulebook.” 

Senator Hawley concluded, “This does not appear to be an isolated incident. Your organization’s recent action follows an undercover investigation which revealed an admission from a Washington Nationals executive that a Catholic player on the team was not included in promotional materials for the team because of his faith. That executive has since been fired, but not before the anti-Christian bigotry was exposed…The freedom to live out one’s faith does not end at the ballpark gate. Americans of every creed are entitled to confidence that the institutions of our national pastime will not single out religious expression for punishment while celebrating messages of the league’s own choosing. I trust the league shares that commitment, and I look forward to your prompt and complete response.

This is a copy of Hawley's letter.

Hawley is not the only one who reacted to this miscarriage of freedom. Vice President J.D. Vance said, "We don't have to do this anymore. President Trump won."

Florida Attorney General posted on X: 

MLB execs had no issue with acts of protest while cities were burned down by left-wing mobs in 2020. In fact, MLB changed the rules to allow more left-wing messaging!

Meanwhile, Christians are singled out and targeted for taking part in a religious protest. Unbelievable. pic.twitter.com/F90BUwujdC

— Attorney General James Uthmeier (@AGJamesUthmeier) June 16, 2026

Red State said this:

From what I understand, the MLB's attendance has been bouncing back over the last four years after previously seeing declines.  They are not going to like Hawley's strong insinuation that he's about to haul them into a Senate committee hearing, especially with America 250 celebrations already underway.

There's an old saying about baseball being "as American as apple pie," and you can bet your sweet bippy that the MLB is trying to figure its way out of a seemingly no-win situation to avoid any more bad publicity: fauxfriend the LGBTQ Alphabet Mafia by changing the "rule" about handwritten/affixed personal messages or further anger a very ticked off United States senator by standing by their warning? Decisions, decisions.

Takeaway

The Bible warns that aligning with the wrong people can corrupt your character and pull you away from God's path. 

It teaches believers to avoid close partnerships with unrighteousness, instead encouraging wise, godly relationships that promote spiritual growth and discernment.

Consider this: 

• Separation from unrighteousness: "Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners" (1 Corinthians 15:33). Surrounding yourself with individuals who practice wickedness will negatively influence your own habits and morals.
• Unequally yoked: "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion hath light with darkness?" (2 Corinthians 6:14). This primarily advises against binding commitments or intimate partnerships with those who do not share your faith and values.
• Avoiding the counsel of the wicked: "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful" (Psalm 1:1). 

Taking advice or modeling your life after those who mock God leads to destruction. 

• Learning their ways: "Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go: Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul" (Proverbs 22:24-25). Aligning with volatile or ungodly people often entraps you in their toxic cycles.
• Seeking wise counsel: "He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed" (Proverbs 13:20). Associating with people of integrity and spiritual wisdom brings positive alignment to your own life.

Be Informed. Be Discerning. Be Vigilant. Be Engaged. Be Bold. Be Prayerful.