Ha Ji-won Becomes First Korean Actor to Throw Ceremonial First Pitch at Fenway Park, Stepping Onto Mound Despite Rain Delay

Actor Ha Ji-won has successfully completed her ceremonial first pitch, becoming the first Korean actor to take the mound at Fenway Park in Major League Baseball (MLB).

Ha served as the ceremonial pitcher for the MLB regular season game between the Boston Red Sox and the Baltimore Orioles held at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts, at 1:00 p.m. on the 22nd (local time).

Originally scheduled to pitch on the 21st, her appearance took place a day later after the game was canceled due to rain. This event, featuring Ha as the first Korean actor to pitch at Fenway Park, was arranged as part of MLB's ongoing global efforts to connect with fans worldwide through the intersection of sports and entertainment.

On this day, Ha arrived at the stadium alongside Kim Byung-hyun, a legendary Korean Major Leaguer and former Boston Red Sox player, and stepped onto the mound wearing a Boston Red Sox uniform amid the cheers of the numerous spectators at Fenway Park.

After exchanging signals with Kim, who was positioned at the catcher's zone, Ha displayed a flawless pitching form and calmly threw the ball straight into the strike zone, drawing enthusiastic cheers from the crowd. Showing her delight after successfully throwing a strike, she also watched the game in person to experience the vibrant atmosphere of MLB.

Sharing photos from the scene after successfully completing her pitch, Ha remarked, "I prepared hard as the first Korean actor to pitch at the historic Fenway Park. Although I was very nervous due to the unexpected situation of the game being postponed by a day, I am relieved and proud to have finished safely." She added, "I hope this first pitch served as a great source of encouragement for local Korean residents, and it was an honor to watch top-tier MLB baseball in person."

Meanwhile, Ha is currently appearing in the web variety show "Ji-won Class of '26," where she enrolls at Kyung Hee University and communicates effortlessly with Gen-Z college students, garnering enthusiastic responses through various challenges including a special "Home Run" stage, cheering, and pitching. She is scheduled to meet audiences on September 2 through the film "Deadman."



(Photo courtesy of MLB official YouTube, Haewadal Entertainment) 

(SBS Star News, Reporter Kim Ji-hye)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.