Giants pitchers react to DOJ probe over Pride protest: ‘I don’t think it’s discrimination’

MIAMI — Neither Ryan Walker nor JT Brubaker said they felt discriminated against as Christians by Major League Baseball, the allegation posed Friday by the Department of Justice announcing a civil rights investigation into the league.

“At the end of the day, I don’t think it’s discrimination,” Brubaker said. “It’s just people getting a hold of something and turning it into something. I just wanted to put my message and my beliefs [out there], and that was the end of it.”

Walker declined to comment on the specific question of religious persecution but explained that his decision to write a Bible verse, Genesis 9:12-16, on the side of his rainbow-colored cap the Giants wore for LGBTQ Pride Night had to do with internal, not external, pressure.

“I wouldn’t say I was necessarily pressured by anybody, MLB or whatever,” Walker said. “I’m more so questioning myself and what does my faith mean to me? Like, I have my beliefs and my side. What am I going to do to make sure I stand for my faith?”

The Giants have worn the same caps for Pride since 2021 and got full participation from all their players, including Walker since his debut in 2023.

“It’s been [something] I’ve wrestled with the last couple years I’ve been here,” Walker said. “Obviously I’ve worn it before. This was a time where I had to reflect on that and not be fearful myself to stand for what I believe in.”

Both players stressed in interviews with The California Post and San Francisco Chronicle before Friday’s series opener against the Marlins that they didn’t intend to spread hate.

“I don’t have any hatred toward anyone,” Walker said. “I have gay friends.”

They were also surprised to hear the latest step taken by Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon, who wrote a public letter to MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred recommending that the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission investigate the league for “unreasonably burdening the rights of players with religious objections to serving as the League’s vehicle for pro-Pride messages.”

MLB issued a warning to Walker, Brubaker and starter Landen Roupp for making illegal alterations under the league’s uniform policy but specified that it “had absolutely nothing to do with the content of the message.” Dhillon countered that it amounted to a “double standard” because MLB permitted some social justice messages during the 2020 season.

Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) wrote on X that MLB “owe[s] us some answers” for “penalizing players for their Christian faith,” alleging in a separate letter to Manfred that there has been a “pattern of discrimination within MLB against Christian baseball players.”

MLB has not taken punitive measures against the players. A fine of $1,000 would only follow a second uniform violation, with the figure rising to $5,000 for each additional violation.

Manager Tony Vitello has generally declined to weigh in on the topic, initially saying there hadn’t been any teamwide discussions about the players’ decision but that there was “just kind of a general knowledge of the individuals that have the freedom to do what they think is best.”

Vitello said he was unaware of MLB’s warning to his players until one of the team’s public relations officials informed him, adding that “it hasn’t been in my world.”

Roupp was unavailable to comment Friday afternoon because he was the Giants’ scheduled starter in the series opener. The team did not respond to a request for comment regarding the DOJ probe.

The club initially put out a statement apologizing for the “pain and anger” caused by the actions of Roupp, Brubaker, Walker and Sam Hentges, who wore the Giants’ regular black and orange cap. “Those choices do not change our organization’s commitment to inclusion.” However, the team added, “We also respect that individuals may make personal choices about participating in team activations.”

The announcement of the federal investigation came a week since the pitchers’ initial actions. The story has not gone away despite the team being on the road since Sunday night.

They’re expected to be met by protests when they begin their next homestand Tuesday.

“I’m just gonna get off the bus, get in the car and go to the house and show up to the field the next day,” Brubaker said. “[I’m] just focused on what we can do on the field to win ballgames.”