Report: MLB offering players social messaging patches for Opening Day

MLB is offering players the choice of adding social messages to their jerseys for Opening Day, sources told Howard Bryant of ESPN.

One patch will reportedly say "United for Change," while the other will state "BLM."

Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Andrew McCutchen and former major leaguer Curtis Granderson have been working with the league on the project.

Players were planning a unified message that was separate from MLB and management, according to Bryant, who adds that back-channel discussions turned an independent protest into a managed response by the league.

All pitcher's mounds will feature a Black Lives Matter stencil during the opening weekend, the Washington Nationals announced Wednesday, according to ESPN.

Several high-profile MLB stars - including Jack Flaherty, Josh Bell, Giancarlo Stanton, Pete Alonso, and McCutchen - condemned racism and police brutality following George Floyd's death in police custody in May.

The league released a statement nine days after the incident, saying, "our game has zero tolerance for racism and racial injustice." However, some players criticized MLB's response, including Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts, who said the league "did not do a good job" responding to Floyd's death.