The unlikely bromance between Dodgers pitcher Blake Snell and a global soccer superstar – NBC Los Angeles

In a city where celebrity friendships bloom faster than palm trees grow, even Los Angeles wasn’t ready for this one: Blake Snell and Son Heung-min.

That’s right—the Dodgers’ two-time Cy Young Award winner and LAFC’s newest global superstar have struck up the most unexpected, and maybe the most wholesome, friendship in Southern California sports.

One’s a laid-back lefty from Seattle with a wicked slider, a crippling changeup, and a love for gaming. The other’s a South Korean soccer icon known for his dazzling smile, effortless charm, and electric footwork. Together? They’ve become LA’s new favorite sports duo.

It all started on August 27th at Dodger Stadium. Son—known affectionately as “Sonny” to fans—was fresh off his LAFC introduction earlier that month, and his star power was already shining bright. Invited to throw out the ceremonial first pitch before a Dodgers game, he was greeted by Snell, who—like a kid meeting his video game hero—could barely contain his excitement.

“He came out to Dodger Stadium to throw the first pitch and I was already a big fan of his,” Snell recalled ahead of his NLDS Game 2 start in Philadelphia. “I used to play FIFA all the time, and he was the best player in the game. I was a big fan of him just from that. Then watching him play… we just became really good friends after that.”

Snell even offered to catch Sonny’s first pitch that night—a gesture that says everything about who Blake Snell is. It wasn’t a celebrity stunt. It was genuine admiration. Sonny’s pitch? A strike, of course. From that moment on, the two LA stars became fast friends.

Just a few weeks later, the bond deepened. On September 21st, Snell and his Dodgers teammate, Hyseong Kim—a fellow South Korean—showed up at BMO Stadium to watch LAFC take on Real Salt Lake. Sonny didn’t disappoint. He put on a show, leading LAFC to a 4-1 victory. Kim even scored a goal, and the trio’s friendship became official LA lore.

The connection came full circle days later. When Snell took the mound for Game 1 of the National League Wild Card Series against the Cincinnati Reds, there was Sonny watching and cheering on his new friend as Snell carved up Reds hitters like he was slicing through a FIFA defense. Seven scoreless innings, nine strikeouts, and the Dodgers got the victory.

For Snell and Sonny, it’s not about fame or spotlight—it’s about genuine respect. They’re both new faces in the LA sports scene, both humble superstars in their own right, and both represent what makes Los Angeles such a fascinating sports city: diversity, connection, and the ability to bridge worlds through shared passion.

Snell smiled when asked about their friendship again before Game 2 in Philadelphia. “We were talking, and I went to his game and he came back out to the playoff game and we’ve just been building a friendship,” he said. “Yeah, we’re friends and talking, and we’ll see where the relationship goes. But we support each other, and it’s been a really fun friendship.”

There’s something refreshingly human about that. In an era where superstar relationships are often transactional or PR-driven, this one feels different. Two athletes at the top of their crafts—one with a fastball, the other with fancy footwork—finding common ground through mutual admiration and good vibes.

And maybe that’s what makes it so LA. You can’t script it. It just happens.

Snell and Sonny. The Cy Young and the soccer star. One throws heat, the other brings it. And together, they’re the latest proof that in Los Angeles, friendship—like talent—transcends borders, sports, and languages.