On the 25th, V took the mound as the ceremonial first pitcher at the Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Cincinnati Reds game held at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. The Dodgers had previously announced V's appearance, sparking excitement among fans even before the game began. On the 18th, the Dodgers teased the event on their official social media with the message, "ARMY, are you ready?"
The official MLB social media account shared the news, posting, "BTS's V met Shohei Ohtani at the Dodgers!" along with photos and videos from the event. In the images, V is seen wearing a Dodgers uniform, standing alongside Ohtani, sharing a light hug and handshake, creating a lively atmosphere.
Fans reacted enthusiastically online, with comments such as "How does an idol stand out even next to Ohtani?", "He looks so exotically handsome," and "The size difference is less than expected."
V has previously discussed his fitness routine on a YouTube channel, mentioning, "During my military service, I worked out almost every day, and if I missed a day, I worked out six days a week." He added, "The personal trainers were huge, so I received intense training, and I think I can lift heavy weights for my body weight."
Following the announcement of V's first pitch, ticket sales surged. According to global ticket platform StubHub, sales for the Dodgers game increased approximately fivefold immediately after the announcement.
Meanwhile, on the 27th, Son Heung-min is scheduled to throw the first pitch at another Dodgers home game.