Los angeles: Son Heung-min, South Korea's beloved football superstar, has taken the mound at Dodger Stadium, wowing the crowd with a powerful ceremonial first pitch before the Los Angeles Dodgers' home game against the Cincinnati Reds. The 33-year-old, who recently joined Major League Soccer's Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC), received a warm welcome from fans as he walked onto the field Wednesday (local time).
According to Yonhap News Agency, the stadium announcer introduced the former Tottenham forward, affectionately known as "Sonny," to roaring cheers. Moments later, Son, known for his goal-scoring prowess, showed off his arm by firing a perfect strike into the catcher's mitt. The pitch drew immediate applause throughout the ballpark, with Korean fans in particular chanting his nickname with pride.
Both the MLB's and Dodgers' official social media accounts shared videos of the impressive pitch, with the MLB calling it "a perfect strike." Son later grabbed a microphone and officially started the game by shouting, "It's time for Dodger baseball!" before watching the game from a VIP box.
Before the game, Son spent time in the Dodgers clubhouse greeting players and coaches, including manager Dave Roberts, and even took a few practice swings in the indoor batting cages. Then, just before his ceremonial pitch, he met Dodgers star Freddie Freeman on the field, and the two exchanged jerseys in a lighthearted moment.
Fans were hoping to see him interact with Dodgers starting pitcher Shohei Ohtani, another global icon, but no official meeting was reported. Son, who recently scored his first goal for LAFC, is set to make his home debut Sunday.