Dodgers pitcher writes tribute to Charlie Kirk on hat for game vs. SF Giants
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Blake Treinen took the mound at Oracle Park during Friday night's game against the San Francisco Giants with a handwritten tribute to Charlie Kirk easily visible on the right side of his hat.
Treinen's blue Dodgers hat had Kirk's name written in white, with a Christian cross on each side of Kirk's name. The message came two days after Kirk, a 31-year-old political activist who frequently expounded far-right views, was shot and killed at a rally on Utah Valley University's campus in Orem, Utah.
Video above: Pa. lawmaker to introduce bill that establishes Charlie Kirk Day as state holiday
Treinen hasn't been shy about using his platform to promote his beliefs and conspiracy theories, which have usually been far-right memes and anti-vaccine content. During the heated Giants-Dodgers postseason showdown in 2021, Treinen changed his Instagram bio to link to Robin Bullock, who said he was a "prophet of God" on his YouTube channel and shared conspiracy theories and indirectly took credit for the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the Capitol.
A one-time All-Star with the A's, Treinen has been with the Dodgers since 2020 and has been a steady presence in their bullpen. But he and fellow pitcher Clayton Kershaw were outspoken against their own team when the Dodgers invited the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, a charity group of queer and drag nuns, to their Pride Night in 2023.
During the Dodgers' Pride Night in 2025 (which coincidentally happened when the Giants were in LA), Kershaw created a controversy for himself when he wrote a Bible verse on his hat. Kershaw claimed it had nothing to do with Pride night, but the specific passage he chose has been frequently used by Christians to denounce the LGBTQ+ community.
The Dodgers played a game on Wednesday night, but Treinen didn't pitch in the 9-0 win over the Rockies. On Friday night, he made an appearance in a game and displayed the tribute to Kirk. Treinen escaped a jam in the ninth inning, but took the loss after he faced one batter in the 10th. It made him the pitcher responsible for the winning run when Giants catcher Patrick Bailey crushed a walk-off grand slam off of Dodgers pitcher Tanner Scott.
