2026 KBO Opening Ceremony: Who Will Throw the First Pitch? Meet the Star Lineup!

[JoyNews24 Reporter Lee Mi-young] With the 2026 KBO season set to open on March 28, attention is turning to the celebrities scheduled to throw ceremonial first pitches.

The 2026 Shinhan SOL Bank KBO League opener has fans buzzing. Clubs have lined up a slate of first-pitch events to energize opening-day crowds.

Chef Son Jong-won will throw the ceremonial first pitch at SSG’s home opener against the KIA Tigers at Incheon’s SSG Landers Field.

Son is the executive chef at Shinsegae Group’s Chosun Hotel & Resort, overseeing Itanic Garden and La Mange Secrète, and has become a popular TV chef after appearing on major cooking competitions such as Black & White Chef 2 and Please Take Care of My Refrigerator 2.

\”I’m honored to throw the first pitch for the 2026 season opener,\” Son said. \”As part of the Shinsegae family, I’ll be cheering for SSG to bring energy to every game and to fight for the championship this season.\”

Park Chan-ho will throw the first pitch at the Hanwha Eagles’ home opener at Daejeon Hanwha Life Ballpark against the Kiwoom Heroes. Singer Stella Jang will perform the national anthem. P1Harmony’s Theo, a Daejeon native and longtime Hanwha fan, will be at the ballpark on the 31st to throw the first pitch and sing the anthem during the Hanwha vs. KT Wiz game.

At Daegu’s Samsung Lions Park, fromis_9’s Lee Chae-young will toss the first pitch for the Samsung Lions vs. Lotte Giants opener. Lee also threw a first pitch during last season’s Game 2 of the opening series, maintaining her connection with Samsung. On the 29th, Bolbbalgan4’s Ahn Ji-young will handle the first pitch for the second game.

Actors Lee Je-hoon and Bae Yu-ram will appear at the KIA Tigers’ home opener at Gwangju-KIA Champions Field beginning April 3. On opening day, Bae will throw the ceremonial first pitch and Lee will take the ceremonial first swing to officially kick off the home opener and wish the team well.

\”Last year we were disappointed when rain canceled the game and the first-pitch ceremony couldn’t take place,\” Bae and Lee said. \”We’re glad to return to Gwangju as invited guests this year. We’ll bring luck and winning energy to the Tigers’ home, Champions Field.\”

On April 4, former South Korean short-track Olympic gold medalist Kim A-rang will throw the first pitch, and on April 5 actor Kim Eui-sung will close the festivities on the mound. \”As a Tigers fan for more than 40 years, standing on the Champions Field mound feels like a dream and a tremendous honor,\” Kim Eui-sung said. \”I hope the team completes the season without injuries, and I sincerely wish that players and fans unite to make this the year we reach the big goal of V13.\”