Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw is once again making headlines—not just for his pitching but also for quietly taking a stand rooted in his Christian faith.
During Friday night’s game against the San Francisco Giants, which also marked the team’s 12th annual Pride Night, Kershaw was spotted wearing a Dodgers cap that featured a unique addition: the Bible reference “Gen 9:12-16” written on the front. The passage—Genesis 9:12-16—describes God’s covenant with Noah after the flood and His promise never to destroy the earth with water again. It’s a passage that identifies the rainbow as a sign of that divine promise.
“The rainbow was originally God’s sign of mercy and covenant,” one fan posted on social media in response to the photo. “Kershaw didn’t have to say a word—he just pointed back to the Word.”
Shoutout to Los Angeles Dodgers Pitcher Clayton Kershaw, who wrote Genesis 9:12-16 on his Pride hat to remind everyone that the rainbow is a sign of God’s covenant ? pic.twitter.com/YMJAlxlNU7
— Jon Root (@JonnyRoot_) June 14, 2025
Screenshots of the televised game quickly circulated online, sparking conversation and debate. Some praised Kershaw for his bold but respectful approach to sharing his beliefs, while others questioned whether it was appropriate during Pride Night.
The Dodgers have not commented on Kershaw’s hat or the visible Bible reference.
This isn’t the first time Kershaw has addressed the intersection of faith and controversy. In 2023, he publicly expressed concern when the Dodgers honored the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence—a group that has been criticized for mocking Christian traditions—as part of their Pride Night celebration. Kershaw’s response was measured but firm.
“I don’t agree with making fun of other people’s religions,” Kershaw said at the time. “This has nothing to do with anything other than that. I just don’t think that no matter what religion you are, you should make fun of somebody else’s religion.”
He made it clear then that his objections were not aimed at the LGBTQ community but specifically at the group’s actions toward the Christian faith.
“This has nothing to do with the LGBTQ community or Pride or anything like that,” he added. “This is simply a group that was making fun of a religion that I don’t agree with.”
In the wake of the backlash that followed that controversy, the Dodgers reinstated Christian Faith and Family Day—a team event that hadn’t been held since 2019. The decision was welcomed by many believers, including Kershaw, who has long been vocal about his faith and active in ministry work off the field.
Kershaw and his wife Ellen are co-founders of Kershaw’s Challenge, a faith-driven nonprofit that serves children and families in need both in the U.S. and around the world.
While Kershaw didn’t publicly announce his hat choice Friday night, the subtle scriptural nod during a highly publicized event spoke volumes to many in the Christian community.
In a culture often quick to clash over values and beliefs, Kershaw’s quiet witness reminds us that faith can be shared not only in words but also in actions and symbols rooted in scripture.