Inside The Pinstripes

K-pop Idol Attends Yankees Game

While on tour in the United States, a member of K-pop group Stray Kids attended a Yankees game in a Max Fried jersey.
Erin Shapland|
Jun 5, 2025; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher Max Fried (54) follows through on a pitch against the Cleveland Guardians during the first inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Jun 5, 2025; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher Max Fried (54) follows through on a pitch against the Cleveland Guardians during the first inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images | Brad Penner-Imagn Images

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New York Yankees

The New York Yankees had a global pop sensation in attendance at a recent game, and evidently he is a fan of starting pitcher Max Fried.

While on tour in New York, Seungmin of the K-pop band Stray Kids attended the Yankees' June 20 game against the Baltimore Orioles at Yankee Stadium, and posted photos on Instagram afterward with the caption "Playball⚾ @yankees". He wore a Max Fried jersey, and included photos of Fried and Aaron Judge from the game. He concluded the Instagram carousel with a photo of Judge's stats from this season, so it's safe to say he's a fan of the slugger as well.

Seungmin and the seven other members of Stray Kids spent Wednesday and Thursday across town this week, playing two sold-out shows at Citi Field on the North American leg of their dominATE World Tour to screaming crowds of adoring fans.

The K-pop idol is well-known for his love of baseball, and dreamed of playing professionally when he was a kid. Unfortunately, due to his family's financial circumstances and his own injuries, he gave up the pursuit to chase his other passion: singing. It seems to have panned out for him.

He continues to show his love for the sport, however, throwing out the first pitch (a strike) in the Los Angeles Dodgers' game against Team Korea in the 2024 MLB Seoul Series. The pitch drew praise from fans, including one who playfully compared his arm to Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto, "Dude throwing better than Yamamoto in spring training".

Seungmin has collected jerseys throughout the tour, posting photos in a Kim Hye-seong Dodgers jersey, a Jung-Hoo Lee San Francisco Giants jersey and a Seattle Mariners jacket.

Stray Kids last toured the United States during their 2022-2023 Maniac World Tour, so their appearances in New York were long-awaited and well-attended. While in town, they also lit the Empire State Building in burgundy, and during their Citi Field shows the Mets mascots wore Stray Kids shirts. To cap off the week, the group won their first Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Award for Favorite Music Group on Saturday evening.

The Yankees went on to lose the game he attended, 5-3, against the Orioles. They will finish the series on Sunday morning, beginning at 11:35 a.m.

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Erin Shapland
ERIN SHAPLAND

Erin covers the New York Yankees for On SI, reporting on all aspects of the championship chase that comes with a storied franchise. A fan of all storylines, who's looking to bring the latest news and updates to one of professional sports' greatest fanbases.

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