K-pop will take the mound in Queens as IVE member Jang Wonyoung throws the ceremonial first pitch at the New York Mets game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Citi Field. The appearance marks IVE’s official MLB debut in the United States, giving DIVE a rare baseball crossover moment in the middle of the group’s world tour.
Major League Baseball announced that Jang had been invited to open the Mets home matchup, with all six IVE members planning to attend. For U.S. fans, it is a one-day chance to see one of K-pop’s biggest girl groups step into a very American ritual usually reserved for hometown heroes and celebrity guests.
Jang Wonyoung first pitch Mets vs Dodgers: what is confirmed
According to MLB, Jang Wonyoung will take the mound for the ceremonial first pitch at Citi Field when the New York Mets host the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday, July 26, 2026, with first pitch scheduled for 1:40 p.m. Eastern time. The throw will happen just before the regular season game begins in Queens.
IVE will attend as a full group, watching from the stadium while Jang represents them on the field. “Every opportunity to connect with fans in a new way inspires me,” she said, adding that she is excited to feel the “electric atmosphere” at Citi Field and share the moment with baseball fans and DIVE around the world.
Ahead of the game, IVE will film special content with former major league pitcher Kim Byung-hyun, now a commentator, and former MLB and KBO pitcher Dustin Nippert. The group, through Starship Entertainment, said they are looking forward to meeting them and hope the collaboration creates “unforgettable memories” for baseball fans and DIVE worldwide.
K-pop meets MLB at Citi Field
For Korean audiences, a ceremonial first pitch is a status symbol usually given to top idols, actors and athletes, and IVE now joins that club on U.S. soil. In American baseball, first pitches happen more often, but pairing them with a global K-pop group at a Mets versus Dodgers matchup signals how seriously MLB is courting younger international fans.
Online discussion in both baseball and K-pop communities reflects that gap, with some U.S. commenters calling it a fun promo and many Korean fans treating it like a major milestone. Either way, Jang Wonyoung’s moment on the mound will put IVE in front of a different kind of crowd than the arenas they usually headline.
Jang has also faced fresh online scrutiny after a minor theme park clip sparked debate about her body language, which she quietly answered with new hoodie photos on social media. The Citi Field spotlight arrives as that chatter still lingers in the background.
IVE’s MLB debut and U.S. tour
The Citi Field moment lands during IVE’s SHOW WHAT I AM North American tour, which opens in Toronto and brings them to Newark on July 25, and fans can expect game highlights to hit MLB and IVE social channels soon after.