From SUGA’s NBA ambassador role and Jin’s Olympic appearance to Jungkook and J-Hope’s first pitches in South Korea, BTS has a long record of blending into the sports arena. However, when BTS’s V—Kim Taehyung made his first overseas ceremonial pitch at Dodger Stadium, the LA traffic looked more like ARMY cantonment.

The 29-year-old singer wore a customized Dodgers jersey with No. 7 in honor of the seven BTS members and V on the back. As soon as he arrived, he met Dodgers’ Japanese phenom Shohei Ohtani, as both of them posed together. Later, V learned how to pitch from the Dodgers’ most dominant arm—Tyler Glasnow.

Post V’s military discharge, he has graced Paris Fashion Week as Celine’s ambassador, led campaigns for Compose Coffee, and made waves with a recent Coca-Cola deal. However, his appearance in Dodgerland was purely magical. Currently, many BTS members are in Los Angeles recording their first album since they officially completed their mandatory military service in June. Their next album is expected to be released in 2026.

The idol’s first pitch was smooth as butter and was bound to take over the internet. The MLB also had a livestream going for fans who wanted to see the BTS star making his first ceremonial pitch in the US. When he was done, he took the time to greet other people who were on the field.

It makes sense why the Dodgers’ regular-season game looked more like a global spectacle. The Dodgers, who entered the encounter with a 74-57 record and coming off an 8-2 win against the San Diego Padres, went up against the Cincinnati Reds. The Reds entered with a 68-63 record, coming off a 6-1 win against the Arizona Diamondbacks. But the game was overshadowed by V’s presence, and the fans couldn’t get enough of it.

BTS’ V turns Dodger Stadium into ARMY Territory with first overseas pitch

As Kim Taehyung, better known as V, stepped onto the mound at Dodger Stadium, the pitch itself lasted only seconds, but the aftermath rippled far beyond the game, as it was meant to! The first wave of responses circled around the sheer power of his presence. “MLB was gagged by the crowd, while this is a normal tuesday for Taehyung, you can’t fake influence; hate trains online do nothing, especially when they will stay in your K-pop bubble only, he’s thriving and glowing with huge support, as it should be!” After all, we’re talking about one of the most globally renowned celebrities, who commands an Instagram following of 69 million. His debut album, Layover, recorded more than two million first-week sales. So, while it must be usual for V to have his army around all the time, it was a different experience for the MLB enthusiasts.

The army knew the influence; “that’s Kim Taehyung for you ❤️🔥.”  Fun fact: Kim Taehyung is the most searched K-pop artist worldwide. He has broken multiple Guinness World Records for Instagram following, including the fastest time to reach 1 million and 10 million followers. That’s V for you!

Makes sense why LA’s traffic was almost unbelievable. “V throws one pitch 👉 LA traffic hasn’t moved since yesterday 💜⚾️.” The famous “V effect” is big enough to literally change the rhythm of a city.

For many, the day was also a reminder of the unwavering dedication of BTS fans. “If BTS or a member of BTS is there, ARMY will always show up.” Even while BTS was on a group hiatus for military service, the solo releases of each member topped charts and set records.

Back in 2023, around 400,000 fans flocked to Seoul’s Hangang Park to celebrate the group’s 10th anniversary. That’s massive! “And that’s his legacy ♡,” another fan noted. Even when no official event is planned, ARMY creates their own fan-organized celebrations. Such as birthday projects that take over subway stations and billboards. Hence, proven, BTS ARMY happens to be the most loyal fanbase in the States.