Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Blake Treinen drew attention on Friday night after being the only player on the team not to wear the team’s Pride-themed hat for Pride Night.
While other players were seen wearing the caps that featured the iconic “LA” logo with the rainbow stripes of the LGBT flag, Treinen entered the game in the ninth inning wearing his normal cap. Treinen would go on to record the win for the game following a walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth by Freddie Freeman.
Treinen has previously been outspoken about his Christian faith and conservative values. His rejection of the Pride night hat comes despite his team being one of the most pro-Pride teams in MLB.
The Dodgers have previously faced criticism over the years for their Pride events, including one instance where they invited a drag group that mockingly dress as Catholic nuns.
Last season, starting pitcher and future Hall of Famer Clayton Kershaw, who is also a devout Christian, participated in Pride Night by wearing the Pride-themed cap. However, handwritten next to the logo was a reference to Genesis 9:12-16, the biblical passage that describes the rainbow as a sign of God’s covenant.
Following the drag nuns controversy, Kershaw publicly encouraged the team to recognize a Christian Faith and Family Day, which the team later incorporated into its calendar.
Across MLB, Pride Night events have been a recurring part of team schedules every June. Only the Texas Rangers have not held such an event, instead hosting a "Faith & Family Night,” which will be held on June 18 this year.