Johnny of NCT, Wooyoung of ATEEZ, and Wendy of Red Velvet will step onto the mound at the 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC), bringing star power and positive energy to Team Korea.

The 2026 WBC organizers announced that Wendy, Johnny, and Wooyoung have been selected as ceremonial first pitchers for the tournament's first-round games. All games will take place at Tokyo Dome in Japan.

Wendy will throw the first pitch against the Czech Republic on March 5. Johnny will take the mound for the Taiwan game on March 8, while Wooyoung will appear during the Australia matchup on March 9. The first pitcher for the March 7 game against Japan has yet to be revealed.

Team Korea must finish within the top two of Group C in the first round to advance to the quarterfinal tournament in the United States.

A Stage Beyond K-pop

Wendy shared, "It's a true honor to throw the first pitch on such a global stage. I hope my pitch delivers positive energy and good luck to the players."

Johnny, known as an avid baseball fan, currently serves as MC for MLB Korea's baseball talk program Major League Talk. He said, "It's meaningful to be part of Team Korea's game. I'll be cheering louder than anyone."

Wooyoung added, "It's a great honor to support Team Korea on the world stage. I hope to pass on strong positive energy and help the team finish the final preliminary game with a victory."

As K-pop meets international baseball at the 2026 World Baseball Classic, global fans are set to watch both the game and the ceremonial moments unfold at Tokyo Dome.