DENVER -- Rockies manager Bud Black said he would be "surprised" if one of his players participated in a protest during the playing of The Star-Spangled Banner, but he would support that player's First Amendment rights.
Athletics catcher Bruce Maxwell began kneeling during the anthem on Saturday, and received support from his teammates, manager Bob Melvin and MLB in the form of a supportive statement. He has said he will continue to kneel for the anthem.
Maxwell's decision to kneel came one day after President Donald Trump made reference to NFL players not standing for the anthem as employees who, as he put it, should be fired by their teams.