A brief appearance from MLB pitcher Blake Treinen during Friday night’s game against the Los Angeles Angels ended up drawing almost as much attention as the result on the field.
The Dodgers were hosting their annual Pride Night celebration, and players were seen wearing special caps featuring rainbow-colored “LA” lettering. When Treinen emerged from the bullpen in the ninth inning, however, viewers quickly noticed that his cap appeared different. Instead of the rainbow logo worn by teammates, the lettering on his blue cap appeared to be the standard white version.
Treinen’s outing itself was extremely short. The veteran reliever entered the game and needed just one pitch to retire Oswald Peraza on a groundout, ending the top of the ninth inning. But despite the brief appearance, social media users immediately began discussing the apparent difference in his uniform.
MLB Fans Quickly Notice the Difference
One fan posted a video of Treinen taking the field and pointed out that he did not appear to be wearing the Pride Night cap the rest of the team had been wearing. The clip quickly circulated online, fueling speculation that the pitcher was making a statement through his choice of headwear.
The discussion revived memories of a similar situation involving another Dodgers star. During the team’s Pride Night event last season, future Hall of Fame pitcher Clayton Kershaw drew attention after writing “Gen. 9:12-16” on his cap alongside the rainbow logo. The Bible passage references God’s covenant with humanity and describes the rainbow as a sign placed in the clouds.
The passage states: “And God said, ‘This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations: I have set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth.’”
Treinen’s Faith Has Been Well Documented
Treinen has not publicly commented on Friday’s situation, but he has spoken extensively in the past about the importance of his Christian faith. During an interview with CBN Sports last October, as the Dodgers were making their postseason run, he discussed his desire to honor God in both his career and his personal life.
“I think my family’s name is great in the eyes of God, but in the eyes of the world, nobody really knew the Treinens, and I don’t really care if they do,” Treinen said.
He also spoke about using his talents to honor his faith. “Every single one of us has been given a gift, and our way of repaying it to the Lord is how do we honor him with that gift?” he said.
Treinen added that when he is welcomed into heaven, he hopes to hear the words, “Job well done, good and faithful servant.” He also said one of his life goals is “to make heaven crowded.”
Dodgers Continue Their Strong Season
While questions about his cap choice generated discussion online, Treinen’s contribution on the field helped set up a memorable finish. Moments after he recorded the final out of the inning, Freddie Freeman delivered a walk-off home run, giving the Dodgers a 1-0 victory over the Angels.
The win improved Los Angeles to 41-23 and strengthened its position atop the National League West. The Dodgers hold a significant lead over the second-place Arizona Diamondbacks and remain among the leading contenders to compete for another World Series title this season.
The club will face the Angels two more times before heading to Pittsburgh for a three-game series against the Pirates.
After the game, Treinen had not addressed the attention surrounding his appearance, leaving unanswered questions about whether the cap choice was intentional or simply a matter of preference.
