Baseball players awestruck by actress’ viral first pitch moment

A popular South Korean actress had the full attention of the LA Dodgers dugout in a moment that quickly went viral on social media.

Freddie Freeman had himself a day Sunday during a Dodgers exhibition game in South Korea, but it was the initial toss by popular actress Jeon Jong-seo that really captivated audiences — the Los Angeles dugout, specifically.

Before the Dodgers’ Seoul Series game against the Kiwoom Heroes got underway at the Gocheok Sky Dome, the 29-year-old film star stood on the mound to throw out the ceremonial first pitch, the New York Post reported.

Jeon Jong-seo throws out the ceremonial first pitch. Picture: Daniel Shirey/Getty Images

Players were awestruck by her pitch. Picture: X

As Jeon readied to hurl the ball toward home plate, several members of the Dodgers appeared to take in the moment off the field, as captured on the broadcast.

Jeon, who starred in the 2023 Netflix film Ballerina and currently appears in the South Korean TV series Wedding Impossible, then posed for a Dodgers photo-op.

The Dodgers demolished their opponent, 14-3, thanks in part to a home run by Freeman, who went 3-for-5.

The actress is seen on the mound at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, South Korea. Picture: Daniel Shirey/Getty Images

Freddie Freeman hits a double in the 4th inning during the exhibition game between Los Angeles Dodgers and Kiwoom Heroes on March 17, 2024. Picture: Getty

The Dodgers – who had a monster of an off-season, to put it lightly – will open their 2024 season on Wednesday against the Padres in South Korea.

They’ll host the Cardinals the following Thursday, March 28, in their home opener.

This season will mark the Dodgers’ first with two-way superstar and newlywed Shohei Ohtani, who agreed to a whopping 10-year, $US700 million ($A1 billion) contract with L.A. in December, weeks before fellow Japanese pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto finalised a 12-year, $US325 million ($A495 million) deal with the team.

Ohtani, a two-time AL MVP who spent the past six years with the Angels, will be sidelined from pitching this year following elbow surgery in September.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Ohtani, 29, will take part in a throwing program upon the team’s return to the US, according to the team’s official website.

“We’ll see how that progression goes,” Roberts said.

“I do know he’s not gonna pitch this year. But right now, our only focus is him being a designated hitter.”

This article originally appeared on the New York Post and was reproduced with permission

Originally published as Baseball players awestruck by actress’ viral first pitch moment