Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw is making waves across social media after appearing to wear a hat featuring a Bible verse reference during the team’s 12th annual Pride Night celebration at Dodger Stadium.
The three-time Cy Young Award winner took the mound Friday night against the San Francisco Giants wearing a Dodgers cap with a rainbow-colored logo — but fans quickly noticed a subtle addition on the front of the cap: the inscription “Gen 9:12-16,” a likely reference to Genesis 9:12-16 in the Bible.
The passage from Genesis recounts God’s covenant with Noah after the flood, using a rainbow as a sign of His promise never to destroy the earth with water again. The timing and symbolism were not lost on fans, with many speculating Kershaw was offering a quiet, personal statement about his own beliefs during the Pride-themed event.
The Dodgers have not yet commented on the apparent message or whether the customized cap was sanctioned.
This isn’t the first time Kershaw has drawn attention for expressing his Christian faith in the context of team events. In 2023, he publicly objected to the Dodgers’ decision to honor the controversial activist group Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence during that year’s Pride Night. The group, known for satirical performances featuring drag queens and involving Catholic imagery, drew criticism from faith leaders and conservatives.
Kershaw made clear at the time that his issue was with the mockery of religion, not with Pride events themselves.
“I don’t agree with making fun of other people’s religions,” Kershaw told the Los Angeles Times. “It has nothing to do with anything other than that.”
Following the controversy in 2023, the Dodgers announced the return of Christian Faith and Family Day, which had not been held since 2019 — a move seen by many as an attempt to offer balance and recognition to a broader segment of the team’s diverse fan base.
Reactions to Kershaw’s cap were mixed, though largely civil. Supporters praised what they saw as a respectful affirmation of personal belief, while critics accused the pitcher of undermining the spirit of the event. Others noted the verse’s focus on covenant and divine promise, pointing out its non-confrontational tone.
“Genesis 9 is literally about peace and remembrance,” one user wrote. “If anything, it fits the theme of unity.”
Despite the online buzz, Kershaw has not issued a public statement about the hat or the verse’s intended message.
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