Jang Won-young's MLB ceremonial pitch: "A windup that would make American youth players cry and wail" — U.S. reactions [K-EYES]

*This content was translated by AI.

"Do they teach baseball in schools in Korea?" … Fox News and U.S. sports fans marvel at Jang Won-young's pitch

Group IVE's Jang Won-young drew widespread attention from local media, social platforms, and sports fans for her premium ceremonial pitch at the New York Mets' home stadium in New York.

On the 26th (local time), Jang took the mound as the ceremonial pitcher at the '2026 Major League Baseball (MLB)' game between the New York Mets and Los Angeles Dodgers, held at Citi Field in New York City.

Immediately after the game, what captured the attention of U.S. sports fans and X (formerly Twitter) users was undoubtedly Jang Won-young's dynamic 'windup' motion. In a blog-style article, local outlet Fox News highlighted Jang's pitch, stating, "Jang Won-young delivered an incredible windup. Do they teach pitching mechanics separately in elementary school in Korea or Japan?" and praised her form as "so perfect that it would make professional youth elite (Travel ball) players who travel for weekend away games across the U.S. feel ashamed."

On global social media platforms like X, sports fans poured out admiration: "I thought she was only outstanding visually, but her pitching form is truly at a professional level," and "Her proportions on the mound and dynamic movements created perfect harmony."

In this lightly sketched article, Fox News also offered witty analysis on how the current generation in America perceives K-pop's overwhelming influence, prompted by Jang's ceremonial pitch.

The columnist wrote, "Has anyone figured out why K-pop is so powerfully sweeping through the U.S.?" and shared a realistic parenting anecdote: "I asked my nine-year-old son about K-pop, and he just shook his head vigorously. It seems boys in elementary school can't openly admit they like it." At the same time, the columnist expressed bewilderment mixed with curiosity about how deeply K-pop has penetrated American pop culture and children's daily lives, noting, "So if K-pop is popular among girls, are young girls really going wild over Jang Won-young's new song? Am I missing something in the current trends?" — a reaction that left even young American boys speechless.

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*This content was translated by AI.