From one former big league star to another, South Korean baseball icon Park Chan-ho threw out the ceremonial first pitch to Gold Glove-winning shortstop Kim Ha-seong to mark the beginning of a historic Major League Baseball (MLB) game in Seoul on Wednesday.

Park was a no-brainer choice for the honor, as his two former teams, the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Diego Padres, squared off to open the 2024 MLB regular season at Gocheok Sky Dome.

This is the first MLB regular season game to take place in South Korea.

Park became the first South Korean to play in an MLB game when he made his debut with the Dodgers in 1994. He went on to spend eight seasons in Los Angeles before going on to play for several other franchises, including the Padres from 2005 to 2006.

He retired with 124 career big league wins, more than any other Asian-born pitcher in MLB history.

After walking up to the mound to a thunderous ovation from fans packing the domed stadium, Park took off his suit jacket and put on a half-and-half jer
sey, showing the letters “PADgers,” combining the letters of the two teams’ nicknames. Park wore his signature No. 61 on the back.

Kim, the Padres’ South Korean shortstop, crouched behind the plate to do the catching. Kim won the National League Gold Glove at the utility position last year. He is the first Asian-born infielder with a Gold Glove.

Park and Kim embraced each other. Park then sprinted toward the Dodgers dugout on the first base side to meet with Dodgers manager and his former San Diego teammate, Dave Roberts.

Source: Yonhap News Agency