IVE’s Wonyoung threw the ceremonial first pitch during a Major League Baseball (MLB) game between the New York Mets and the Los Angeles Dodgers on July 26 (U.S. time) at New York’s Citi Field, becoming the Mets’ lucky charm for victory. The appearance underscored her growing influence as a cultural icon, drawing attention from baseball fans and international audiences alike, while further highlighting IVE‘s expanding presence on the global stage.
All IVE members attended the game at the Mets’ official invitation, with Wonyoung representing the group by taking the mound ahead of the matchup. For the occasion, she styled a New York Mets striped jersey into a cropped look, pairing it with light-wash bootcut jeans and sneakers. Carrying a baseball glove, she took the mound and delivered the ceremonial first pitch with flawless form, captivating the crowd in attendance. Wonyoung served as the Mets’ good-luck charm, as the Mets defeated the Dodgers 8-3 following her pitch. Her appearance quickly gained traction across social media, as the hashtag “WonyoungMLBFirstPitch” reached No. 1 on X’s U.S. global trending list.
“It is a huge honor to throw a pitch for such a big game enjoyed by baseball fans around the world,” she said. “Meeting with fans in a new way always inspires me.”
After the pitch, all IVE members cheered passionately for the Mets from the stands, celebrating key moments and interacting with fellow fans. MLB’s official social media accounts also shared highlights from the day, including Wonyoung‘s pitch, IVE’s group photo, and moments of the members greeting former Major League pitchers Kim Byung-hyun and Dustin Nippert, as well as Mets star Francisco Lindor, offering fans a vivid glimpse of the memorable day at the ballpark.
IVE is currently on the North American leg of its second world tour, “SHOW WHAT I HAVE.” The group kicked off the tour in Toronto (July 21) and Montreal (July 23), staging its first-ever solo concerts in Canada, before heading to Newark (July 25). During its Canadian shows, IVE enthralled audiences with hit songs including “LOVE DIVE,” “After LIKE,” and “I AM,” while also delivering solo performances. Notably, the group sparked a massive Korean singalong during “BANG BANG,” further demonstrating its global reach and influence. The tour will continue with stops in Austin (July 29), Inglewood (Aug. 1), Oakland (Aug. 4), Seattle (Aug. 7), and Vancouver (Aug. 9).
Since launching its world tour in Seoul last October, IVE has continued to expand both the scale and production of its concerts. The group has already completed shows in Japan, the Philippines, Singapore, and Australia, among others. Notably, IVE performed at Japan’s prestigious Kyocera Dome for the first time in its career in April, before returning to Tokyo Dome for its second performance at the venue after approximately 1 year and 9 months, attracting a total of 127,000 audience members.
Source: Press Release
