Taipei: Taiwan-born astronaut Kjell Lindgren threw the ceremonial first pitch at the Washington Nationals' Taiwan Heritage Day at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C., prior to the team's game against the Miami Marlins.According to Focus Taiwan, the Nationals' second Taiwanese Heritage Day featured Lindgren, who expressed that throwing the first pitch was as nerve-wracking as some of his past experiences, which include two rocket launches and spacewalks. Despite the anxiety, Lindgren was enthusiastic about participating in the event, viewing it as a celebration of the relationship and history between the United States and Taiwan.Lindgren, who has a multicultural heritage with connections to both the United States and Taiwan, was selected for this honor by the Millennial Global Youth (MGY) Foundation. He was born in Taipei to an American father serving in the U.S. Air Force and a Taiwanese mother, giving him deep ties to both nations.The event showcased Taiwanese culture with several booths around Nationa ls Park. Highlights included a performance of the U.S. national anthem by Taiwanese American singer-songwriter Vienna Teng, and a musical performance by Formosan Groove that melded Taiwanese and American elements. Attendees also had the chance to enter a raffle for a round-trip flight between Washington, D.C., and Taiwan, sponsored by EVA Air.The MGY Foundation reported that approximately 700 tickets were sold for this cultural celebration. This occasion marked Lindgren's third appearance throwing a ceremonial first pitch at a Taiwan-related professional baseball event. Earlier this year, he participated in similar events at Rakuten Taoyuan Baseball Stadium in Taiwan and at the New York Mets' Taiwanese Heritage Day at Citi Field.The MGY Foundation, predominantly composed of second-generation Taiwanese Americans, aims to promote Taiwanese culture, multicultural diversity, and community ties, underscoring the significance of such heritage events.