Ha Ji-won Becomes First Korean Actress to Throw MLB Ceremonial First Pitch at Fenway Park

On July 21 (local time), actress Ha Ji-won will throw the ceremonial first pitch before the MLB regular-season game between the Boston Red Sox and the Baltimore Orioles at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts.

Fenway Park is one of baseball’s most historic stadiums, making the occasion particularly significant. According to her agency, Ha Ji-won will be the first Korean actress to receive the honor at the iconic venue.

The invitation is part of MLB's ongoing efforts to connect with fans worldwide by bringing together sports and entertainment. Organizers hope the event will serve as a meaningful cultural exchange between Korean entertainment and Major League Baseball, while strengthening MLB's engagement with international audiences.

Ha Ji-won's MLB appearance follows another well-received ceremonial first pitch in South Korea. On July 16, she threw the opening pitch before the LG Twins and KT Wiz game at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul. Despite it being her first ceremonial pitch in 12 years, the actress drew praise for both her youthful appearance and her polished pitching form, generating considerable attention online.

Sharing her excitement ahead of the event, Ha Ji-won said: “It is a tremendous honor to become the first Korean actress to throw the ceremonial first pitch at Fenway Park, one of the most historic stadiums in Major League Baseball.” She added: “I’ve been practicing hard, and I hope to show everyone a great performance. I also hope to bring good luck to the Boston Red Sox while sharing this memorable moment with Korean residents in the U.S. and baseball fans from around the world.”

Beyond acting, Ha Ji-won has recently explored new creative projects. She attracted attention by performing her song “Home Run” on music shows and is currently appearing in the web variety program 26th-Year Freshman Ji-won, where she interacts with university students after enrolling at Kyung Hee University. The actress is also preparing for the release of her upcoming film Bigwang, which is scheduled to premiere on September 2.

Sources: Daum | 스포티비뉴스