The sun was beginning to set over Los Angeles on Wednesday night, casting a golden glow across Dodger Stadium as nearly 50,000 fans packed the seats. 

But before the Boys in Blue took the field for the Los Angeles Dodgers as they went for the sweep against the Cincinnati Reds, another ‘Son’ stepped into the spotlight.

Son Heung-min — the former Tottenham Hotspur icon and current LAFC forward — known affectionately as ‘Sonny,’ walked to the mound, wearing a No. 7 Dodgers jersey, and Dodgers hat. 

Ceremonial first pitches are ordinarily not a big deal, but for Sonny, you could tell this was important to him. 

Weeks of quiet practice led to this moment. Sonny had been spotted earlier in the week, baseball in hand, carefully rehearsing his mechanics — studying the stance, working on his release, repeating the motion until it felt as natural as striking a free kick. Videos circulated online of Sonny at LAFC training throwing to his teammate Ryan Hollingshead. 

For a brief moment it appeared that nerves might have gotten the better of Sonny. He forgot to put his Dodgers hat on before he stepped to the mound. He also struggled putting on his glove. But once he was set on the rubber, he took a deep breath, and when it mattered most, his practice had paid off. 

Sonny reared back and fired a pitch right down the middle — a clean, confident strike that drew roaring cheers from the Dodger faithful, and a smile from his honorary catcher: Dodgers starting pitcher Blake Snell.

Then, with the mic in his hand, Sonny added another Dodgers tradition to his repertoire. Looking into the camera with a grin as wide as the Chavez Ravine skyline, he declared:

“It’s time for Dodger baseball!”

For LA sports fans, it was a collision of two worlds — the city’s baseball cathedral and one of the brightest stars in global soccer. Sonny, who has taken MLS by storm since signing with Los Angeles FC, is no stranger to pressure-packed moments. He’s scored Champions League screamers in front of 60,000 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. He’s carried his national team through World Cup drama. But even he admitted that the idea of throwing a first pitch made him nervous.

Nervous? Maybe. But as Dodgers fans saw Wednesday night, Sonny was every bit as composed on the mound as he is on the pitch.

The Dodgers would go on to face the Reds under the bright lights, with another Asian superstar, two-way sensation, and three-time MVP Shohei Ohtani on the mound.