V from the globally renowned South Korean boy band BTS made his Major League Baseball debut by throwing out the ceremonial first pitch at Dodger Stadium during the Los Angeles Dodgers' home game against the Cincinnati Reds on Monday. The K-pop superstar donned a special Dodgers jersey featuring the number 7 on the back as he took the mound in front of thousands of fans at the iconic stadium.
The BTS member demonstrated respect for Japanese culture and baseball tradition by performing a slight bow toward Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto before delivering his pitch using his left hand. The moment was captured by photographers and quickly spread across social media platforms, delighting both baseball fans and the massive BTS fanbase known as ARMY.
Prior to the game, V had the opportunity to meet and interact with Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani in the team's dugout. The two international celebrities were photographed chatting casually and sharing a brief friendly embrace, creating a memorable cross-cultural moment between K-pop and Major League Baseball. The interaction highlighted the global reach of both Korean entertainment and Japanese baseball talent in American sports.
The Dodgers organization had announced V's participation the previous week through their official social media account on X (formerly Twitter). Their promotional post specifically addressed BTS fans, reading: "ARMY, you ready? V will be at Dodger Stadium on Aug. 25 to throw out the ceremonial first pitch!" The team's direct appeal to the devoted BTS fandom demonstrated the crossover appeal between Korean pop culture and American baseball.
According to BigHit Music, V's talent agency, this ceremonial pitch marked the artist's first-ever appearance at a Major League Baseball game in this capacity. The historic moment represents another milestone in the ongoing cultural exchange between South Korean entertainment and American professional sports, further cementing BTS's influence beyond the music industry.
The Korean celebrity appearances at Dodger Stadium will continue later this week, as South Korean soccer sensation Son Heung-min is scheduled to throw out the ceremonial first pitch on Wednesday. Son recently joined Major League Soccer's Los Angeles FC as a forward after completing a successful decade-long career with Tottenham Hotspur in England's Premier League, making his appearance another significant moment for Korean sports representation in Los Angeles.
