Actor Ha Ji-won has successfully thrown the ceremonial first pitch at Fenway Park, becoming the first Korean actor to do so.
On July 22 (local time) at around 1:00 PM, Ha took the mound as the pitcher for the Major League Baseball (MLB) regular season game between the Boston Red Sox and the Baltimore Orioles at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts.
Originally scheduled for July 21, her appearance was pushed back by a day due to rain cancellations. The event, which made Ha the first Korean actor to throw a first pitch at Fenway Park, was organized as part of MLB's ongoing global efforts to connect with fans worldwide through the intersection of sports and entertainment.
On that day, Ha arrived at the stadium alongside Kim Byung-hyun, a legendary Korean Major Leaguer and former Boston Red Sox player, and took the mound wearing a Boston Red Sox uniform amidst cheers from the crowd at Fenway Park.
After exchanging hand signals with Kim Byung-hyun, 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 spectators. Expressing her joy over the successful strike after the pitch, she watched the game firsthand to experience the excitement of the MLB.
Sharing photos from the scene after successfully completing her first pitch, Ha shared her thoughts, saying, "As the first Korean actor to throw a first pitch at the historic Fenway Park, I prepared hard. Although I felt very nervous due to the unexpected situation of the game being delayed by a day, I am relieved and proud to have finished it safely. I hope this first pitch served as a great source of strength for Korean expatriates living locally, and it was an honor to watch high-level MLB baseball in person."
Meanwhile, Ha is currently appearing in the web variety show "Ji-won Is the Class of '26", which follows her entering Kyung Hee University and interacting closely with Gen-Z college students. She has been drawing enthusiastic responses through various challenges, including a special "Home Run" stage, acting as a cheerleader, and throwing first pitches. She is scheduled to meet audiences with the movie "Bigwang" on September 2.
Photo Source = Major League Baseball (MLB) Official YouTube, Haewadal Entertainment
(SBS Entertainment News | Kim Ji-hye)