Hopes Rise for Inaugural-Year Championship as Kim Sang-wook Throws First Pitch at Ulsan Whales’ Final Home Game

【Financial News, Ulsan = Reporter Choi Soo-sang】The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) Futures League’s Ulsan Whales will celebrate their final 2026 regular-season home game against KT Wiz with Ulsan residents at 5 p.m. on the 13th at Ulsan Munsu Baseball Stadium. Kim Sang-wook, the mayor of Ulsan, will throw the ceremonial first pitch, while the Ulsan Whales fan who attended the most home games this season will take the ceremonial first at-bat. 
The Ulsan Whales moved into first place in the Southern League after defeating the Lotte Giants in the 10th game of the season at Sangdong Baseball Stadium on the 9th. The result has raised expectations that the team could achieve the remarkable feat of winning the championship in its inaugural year.
According to the Ulsan Whales, Heo Gu-yeon, president of the KBO; KBO Technical Committee Chairman Kim Si-jin; and KBO Talent Donation Committee member Yoon Hak-kil will also visit Ulsan Munsu Baseball Stadium for the team’s final home game of its first season, alongside Kim Sang-wook, who will throw the ceremonial first pitch.
The Ulsan Whales’ participation in the Futures League was confirmed following approval by the KBO board of directors last December, and the team was founded in February this year. It played its first game on March 20. The team also set a Futures League attendance record when 7,299 spectators attended its first home opener at Ulsan Munsu Baseball Stadium.
An even larger crowd is expected for the final game of the inaugural season. The Ulsan Whales have prepared ticket discounts and various events. In particular, to mark the symbolic occasion of surpassing the opening-game attendance, the team will give a season ticket for next season to the “7,300th spectator.” The players have also prepared a special pledge to present to fans if attendance exceeds 7,299.
Before the game, the players will hold a relay autograph session, followed by special performances by the Ulsan Taekwondo Demonstration Team and the Ulsan Sports Cheerleading Squad. During the game, a 2026 season highlights video will be shown, followed by an Ulsan Whales fan awards ceremony and prize drawings.
Meanwhile, the Ulsan Whales routed the Lotte Giants 14–4 that day. With six regular-season games remaining, the team leads the Southern League with a record of 53 wins, 36 losses and one tie. It is a half-game ahead of the second-place Lotte Giants. 


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