Lee Seung-hoon of 'Winner' is embroiled in a controversy over his disruptive ceremonial first pitch.

Lee Seung-hoon attended as the first pitcher at the 2024 Shinhan SOL Bank KBO League game between the Lotte Giants and Hanwha Eagles at Sajik Stadium in Busan on the 28th.

Following his appearance as the ceremonial batter last year, he visited Sajik Stadium once again. Lee shouted to the audience, "Lotte Winner has arrived. Giants, let's win! Make some noise!"

It was an unusual first pitch. Lee kissed the glove and then took a pitching stance. He then danced for 18 seconds to his solo song "My Style" before throwing the pitch.

After finishing the dance, he threw the ball, but it did not go smoothly. It bounced significantly before the home plate. Son Seong-bin was seen running towards the netting.

Caster Kim Min-soo and commentator Lee Dong-hyun, who were in charge of the broadcast, commented, "He is definitely different from the others," adding, "One thing for sure is that this form would not be allowed if the pitch clock is introduced next year."

Criticism arose among some baseball fans. They argued that the excessive first pitch performance disrupted the game's flow and distracted the players.

One baseball fan filed a complaint with the Korea Sports Council (KSOC). They called it an "inappropriate first pitch that could disrupt the game's flow" and urged the KBO to take swift action.

However, realistic measures are hard to expect. According to the KBO, there are no regulations regarding ceremonial first pitches. There's no time limit or ban on disrupting the game for such events.

The KBO has reportedly acknowledged the controversy related to this first pitch. They have received complaints from fans. However, no relevant complaints have been filed with the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism yet.

<Photo Source = Lee Seung-hoon's SNS Capture>