Washington: The Washington Nationals are gearing up to host their second Taiwanese Heritage Day at Nationals Park on August 29, with Taiwan-born NASA astronaut Kjell Lindgren set to take center stage. Lindgren will have the honor of throwing out the ceremonial first pitch before the Nationals face off against the Miami Marlins.

According to Focus Taiwan, Lindgren was selected for this prestigious role due to his unique multicultural background that bridges Taiwan and the United States. The Millennial Global Youth (MGY) Foundation, which organizes the annual Taiwanese Heritage Day, highlighted Lindgren's achievements and his Taiwanese-American heritage as the key reasons for his selection.

Born in Taipei in 1973, Lindgren's connection to Taiwan is deeply personal. His father served in the U.S. Air Force in Taiwan, and Lindgren spent over two years living in Taichung. His mother, Chang Chu-yun, is Taiwanese, further cementing his ties to the island. This event marks the third instance this year where Lindgren will throw out the first pitch at a Taiwan-related professional baseball event.

Lindgren's previous appearances include a ceremonial pitch at the Rakuten Taoyuan Baseball Stadium in Taiwan in April and another at Citi Field in July for the New York Mets' annual Taiwanese Heritage Day alongside Tsai Chi-chang, the commissioner of Taiwan's Chinese Professional Baseball League.

The MGY Foundation has lined up several cultural activities to accompany Lindgren's appearance. Nationals Park will feature booths promoting Taiwanese culture, while musical events will entertain the crowd. Notably, Taiwanese-American pianist and singer-songwriter Vienna Teng is set to perform the American national anthem.

A highlight of the event will be the participation of a Formosan black bear mascot in the Nationals' famous Presidents Race, joining the caricature-headed figures of George Washington, Theodore Roosevelt, Thomas Jefferson, and Abraham Lincoln. Additionally, attendees will have the opportunity to win a round-trip flight between Washington, D.C., and Taiwan, thanks to the MGY Flight Ticket Raffle sponsored by EVA Air.

The MGY Foundation, primarily consisting of second-generation Taiwanese-Americans, is committed to celebrating Taiwan's culture and fostering multicultural diversity within the community. Their efforts aim to strengthen ties and promote understanding between different cultures.