The news that BTS’s V (Kim Taehyung) will be throwing the ceremonial first pitch at the Los Angeles Dodgers’ home game on August 26 has sparked an explosive response from ARMYs worldwide. Announced officially by the LA Dodgers on August 17, the news generated such overwhelming excitement that it reportedly caused MLB and ticketing websites to crash. The anticipation of this “historic moment” alone was enough to overload servers.

According to the Dodgers’ official SNS, V is scheduled to throw the first pitch at the August 25 (local time) game against the Cincinnati Reds. The post read, “ARMY, are you ready? V will be throwing the first pitch at Dodger Stadium on August 25!” accompanied by a purple heart emoji, the signature symbol of the BTS fandom.



The announcement immediately triggered a massive global reaction. MLB and ticket reservation sites were said to have experienced simultaneous server outages due to the surge in traffic. The first pitch marks a rare occasion for a K-pop idol to stand on a Major League Baseball stage. The Dodgers, who have a tradition of inviting high-profile figures for ceremonial pitches, will also host soccer player Son Heung-min as a first pitcher on August 27.



BTS members themselves share strong ties with the sports world. Suga is well-known as a baseball fan and serves as an NBA ambassador, while J-Hope and Jungkook have also thrown ceremonial pitches in the past.



V has recently been actively connecting with fans. On Sunday, he drew attention by sharing a series of photos on Instagram under the caption “25 years later,” chronicling his growth from childhood to the present. The post included childhood moments with family and friends, current gym selfies, glimpses of his creative work, and relaxed scenes with fellow BTS members.



Additionally, during a Weverse audio chat on July 28, V hinted that he had “a surprise prepared for August.” On July 31, he was also announced as the new face of Coca-Cola Zero’s #BestCokeEver campaign in Korea.


Written by Mun Wan Sik
Translated by Lee So Yun