BTS’s V threw the ceremonial first pitch at the Major League Baseball (MLB) game between the Dodgers and the Cincinnati Reds at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California, on the 26th. Dressed in jeans and a white Dodgers uniform featuring a ″V″ and the number 7 on his back, V received the ball from Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto and threw the first pitch with his left hand. Afterward, he shared a brief conversation with Yamamoto and waved to the cheering fans.

Before the game, V met with MLB star Shohei Ohtani, and the two exchanged laughs and engaged in conversation before taking a commemorative photo. The Dodgers announced V’s first pitch on their official social media, asking fans, ″ARMY, are you ready?″ Following the announcement, ticket reservation sites experienced brief connection issues due to the excitement surrounding V’s first pitch.

In another highlight, Son Heung-min, who plays for LAFC, is scheduled to pitch for the Dodgers on the 28th. On the 22nd, he shared footage of his ceremonial first pitch practice on LAFC’s social media, showing him throwing to defender Ryan Hollingshead. Expressing his satisfaction, Son noted, ″It’s my first ceremonial first pitch,″ and mentioned that he practiced for the first time the day before, saying, ″It wasn’t too bad.″ He added, ″It’s actually a bit far, but I threw it smoothly, so it was easy. Isn’t this pretty good?″

This ceremonial first pitch event is garnering attention as a meeting of world-class stars representing Korean and Japanese soccer and baseball. The gathering of V, Ohtani, and Son Heung-min is drawing significant interest from fans, as they are all excelling in their respective sports. V is globally recognized in music, while Ohtani and Son are celebrated in sports. Each has a dedicated fan base, making this meeting particularly meaningful for fans of both sports.

The Dodgers-Cincinnati Reds game commenced with V’s ceremonial first pitch, eliciting cheers from the crowd. As a prominent Korean artist, V’s first pitch transcends a mere event, symbolizing the global spread of Korean culture. The intersection of MLB and K-pop is offering a new level of enjoyment for fans worldwide.

Son Heung-min’s upcoming first pitch is also highly anticipated, expected to generate excitement following the V-Ohtani encounter. The first pitches by these two LA-based stars blur the lines between sports and entertainment, providing a unique experience for fans.

These star-studded first pitches are likely to strengthen the relationship between MLB and the K-League. Fans are enjoying a fresh form of entertainment at the crossroads of sports and music, showcasing the convergence of global cultures.