Jang Wonyoung of IVE Throws First Pitch at Mets‑Dodgers Game in New York
On July 26‑27 2026, Jang Wonyoung, a member of the South Korean girl group IVE, threw the ceremonial first pitch at Citi Field in Queens, New York, ahead of the Major League Baseball matchup between the New York Mets and the Los Angeles Dodgers. The New York Mets organization formally invited her, and she appeared on the mound alongside former MLB pitcher Dustin Nippert.
Wonyoung, who has become one of the most recognizable figures of the fourth generation of K‑pop, is part of IVE, the best‑selling South Korean female group of 2024. Her appearance follows earlier K‑pop promotional pitches, such as Jeon Somi’s in 2018, and reflects MLB’s ongoing strategy to use K‑pop artists to attract Generation Z and Asian audiences in the United States.
The event was highlighted across social media and news outlets as a high‑visibility example of cross‑cultural sports marketing, underscoring the league’s effort to blend entertainment and athletics to broaden its fan base.
Entities: IVE · Jang Wonyoung · Los Angeles Dodgers · Major League Baseball · New York Mets
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The event illustrates MLB’s broader cross‑cultural sports marketing strategy. (Article 45565246-95df-4edd-8191-d9ed1ec2c5a0)
- [● 2 SOURCES] MLB is using K‑pop artists in ceremonial events to attract Generation Z and Asian audiences. (Articles fa70d2c1-8a77-4228-81a2-28c7f619932d and 45565246-95df-4edd-8191-d9ed1ec2c5a0)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] IVE was South Korea’s best‑selling female group in 2024, with the album IVE Switch being the top‑selling release that year. (Article fa70d2c1-8a77-4228-81a2-28c7f619932d)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The New York Mets organization officially invited Jang Wonyoung to the event. (Article fa70d2c1-8a77-4228-81a2-28c7f619932d)
- [● 2 SOURCES] Former MLB pitcher Dustin Nippert appeared alongside Jang Wonyoung during the first‑pitch ceremony. (Articles fa70d2c1-8a77-4228-81a2-28c7f619932d and 45565246-95df-4edd-8191-d9ed1ec2c5a0)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Jang Wonyoung is a member of the South Korean girl group IVE. (All three articles)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Jang Wonyoung threw a ceremonial first pitch at Citi Field before a New York Mets vs Los Angeles Dodgers game on July 26‑27 2026. (All three articles)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The ceremony was the first K‑pop girl group member first pitch at Citi Field since Jeon Somi in 2018. (Article 30c7670e-8471-497b-af21-e7b2ab03ed31)