Jang Wonyoung throws the first pitch at Citi Field as the Mets host the Dodgers

What happened

Jang Wonyoung threw the first pitch at a game between the New York Mets and the LA Dodgers. According to Edaily and The Korea Economic Daily, STARSHIP Entertainment said on 16 July that IVE had accepted an official invitation from the Mets to attend the game at Citi Field on 26 July, local time, with Jang Wonyoung throwing the ceremonial first pitch. The Korea Times reported that all six members would attend. In the same announcement IVE said it would also film content with the former Major League pitchers Kim Byung-hyun and Dustin Nippert.

When and where

The game was played on Sunday 26 July 2026, local time, at Citi Field in New York; in Korean time it was 27 July. IVE went during the North American leg of its second world tour, SHOW WHAT I AM, which ran from 21 July to 9 August. According to Herald Business the tour then continued in Austin on 29 July, LA on 1 August, Oakland on 4 August, Seattle on 7 August and Vancouver on 9 August. MLB’s official YouTube channel posted the pitch on the day of the game, and IVE’s official channel posted an ‘MLB New York Mets’ short on 28 July.

Why it matters

Herald Business called the visit IVE’s first MLB appearance. On the day the invitation was announced, Jang Wonyoung said: “It is an honour to be the first-pitch thrower at a big game that baseball fans around the world are watching. I will do my best to give good energy to the crowd and to the players.” Sports Kyunghyang reported that she drew applause from the crowd with a steady throw and her first-pitch pose, and that the hashtag ‘WonyoungMLBFirstPitch’ reached number one on X’s trends in the United States. The Mets beat the Dodgers 8-3. MLB’s official social media posted the pitch, a group photo of IVE, and the members greeting Kim Byung-hyun, Dustin Nippert and Francisco Lindor.

What you need to know

• The first pitch was on 26 July 2026, local time, at Citi Field in New York, before the New York Mets played the LA Dodgers.
• STARSHIP Entertainment announced the Mets’ official invitation and Jang Wonyoung’s first pitch on 16 July.
• The Mets won 8-3.
• The pitch is on MLB’s official YouTube channel; IVE’s official channel posted its short on 28 July.