Son Heung-min Steals the Show at Dodger Stadium with "Perfect First Pitch"

[OSENWORLD] Son Heung-min, South Korean football star now playing for Los Angeles FC (LAFC) in Major League Soccer, took the mound for the ceremonial first pitch at Dodger Stadium—home of Major League Baseball’s powerhouse Los Angeles Dodgers—on August 27 (local time).

Wearing a Dodgers jersey emblazoned with his iconic No. 7 and “SON,” Son stepped up before the team’s home game against the Cincinnati Reds. With a strong, fluid motion, he fired the ball straight into the strike zone, caught cleanly by Dodgers pitcher Blake Snell, who was serving as catcher for the event.

The stadium announcer praised it as “a perfect pitch, Sonny!” and even added a cheerful “kamsahamnida (thank you)” in Korean. Son doffed his cap and waved to the crowd as he left the mound, drawing loud applause, especially from Korean fans in attendance.

After sharing a warm hug and brief conversation with Snell, Son took his seat in the VIP section, where he was spotted recording Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani—Japan’s two-way sensation—on his phone. The possibility of a meeting between Asia’s two biggest sports icons, Son and Ohtani, sparked buzz, though a face-to-face meeting had to wait as Ohtani was starting on the mound that night. The Dodgers went on to win the game 5-1 over the Reds.

Son recently netted his first MLS goal in just his third match, scoring against FC Dallas on August 24. He is set to make his long-awaited home debut for LAFC on September 1, when the team faces San Diego FC, the current Western Conference leader, at BMO Stadium.

/k_inside@osen.co.kr

[Photo courtesy of LAFC]