The last time the Los Angeles Dodgers and Cincinnati Reds met in July, the Dodgers won the series 2-1. They took the first two games, and then the Reds fought back to avoid a sweep. Now with a real playoff push, where the Dodgers are at 71-53 and the Reds are at 65-60, the Reds will look for payback at Chavez Ravine. But it isn’t the only reason fans are racing for a seat.

The real reason for the ticket frenzy is Kim Taehyung, known to millions as V from BTS. The Dodgers announced the pop icon will throw the ceremonial first pitch on Monday, August 25, 2025. The game begins at 7:10 PM PT and will air on SportsNet LA. The team’s official Instagram account posted, “ARMY, you ready? V will be at Dodger Stadium on 8/25 to throw out the ceremonial first pitch! 💜” Fans were warned to get their tickets before they were sold out.

So, who is the man causing this baseball uproar?

He is one of the most famous people on the planet with 69 million Instagram followers. His debut album, Layover, recorded more than two million first-week sales. The album’s jazzy title track, Slow Dancing, has more than 500 million streams on Spotify. Love Me Again is one of the most famous albums, having been streamed over one billion times. Fans affectionately call him the Winter Bear.

But it isn’t just a random appearance at Dodger Stadium. They have been building this bridge for years.

The franchise has already welcomed K-pop to its stadium before. The group NCT 127 participated in a group ceremonial first pitch in 2019. It was the same year that another BTS member, Suga, attended a game to support a fellow Korean player, then-Dodgers pitcher Hyun-Jin Ryu. The Dodgers have shown genuine respect for the community by hosting these cultural nights consistently.

And it will not be an exaggeration to say that when the news became public, it created a tsunami online. Fans erupted in the comment section the second the announcement dropped.

An army mobilizes: The fan reaction

One experienced BTS fan offered a friendly but urgent warning in these situations: “Those of you hardcore Dodger fans that arent BTS fans, you need to secure your tickets NOW. Like….seriously. Now.” This comment looks less like hype and more like a lesson. The BTS ARMY concerts famously sell out stadiums in a minute. V himself is known as the “Sold Out Fairy.”

Another fan responded to anyone who might doubt the singer’s influence: “To those who don’t know him, are you kidding me? Go to the ticket website and see his power. He’s so powerful that the site crashed shortly after this news broke.” And you can’t argue. Following the announcement, there were reports that stated that the website had crashed.

But the most interesting reaction came from an unexpected place, as one fan wrote, “As a Yankees fan, V is the only one who can make me excited for the Dodgers 😂. Can’t wait to watch @thv throw out the ceremonial ball.” This proves Kim Taehyung’s fanbase isn’t limited by city or country. With over 69 million Instagram followers, he is a worldwide phenomenon.

Another commenter was straightforward in his point. He said, “the most influential kpop artist 💜🔥.” It is backed by hard numbers. V’s debut solo album, Layover, was the first by a K-pop soloist to sell more than two million copies in its first week.

Finally, one fan focused on the main event. “I’m looking forward to it! It’s going to be the best throw! I’m sure of it!!!” We have all seen the viral clips of stars like 50 Cent or Carly Rae Jepsen delivering famously bad pitches. But this fan believes that V will not treat the moment lightly. What’s your take on the event?