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Tigers surprise South Korean fan Tom Hur with Jahmai Jones jersey
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- Tigers surprise South Korean fan Tom Hur with Jahmai Jones jersey
Tom Hur visited his first MLB ballpark all the way from South Korea.
He didn't expect his first trip to include a hug from his favorite player, but there he was Tuesday, April 21, at Comerica Park, standing on the field watching players take batting practice when Detroit Tigers outfielder Jahmai Jones walked toward him.
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Jones handed Hur a custom Team Korea jersey after a quick handshake and hug, stitched with his last name and his No. 15 from the 2026 World Baseball Classic .
"This is crazy," Hur said.
FROM NOVEMBER 2025: Detroit rolled out the red carpet for South Korean Pistons superfan Tom Hur
Detroit Tigers outfielder Jahmai Jones and Detroit Pistons fans Tom Hur before a game against the Milwaukee Brewers at Comerica Park in Detroit, Michigan on April 21, 2026.
Hur is a huge Detroit Pistons fan from Seoul, South Korea.
The 33-year-old has been a Pistons fan since 2010.
Hur, also known as KoreaPistonsFan on social media, traveled nearly 7,000 miles to Detroit primarily for the NBA playoffs, but he carved out time in his jam-packed schedule to experience for his first baseball game. He showed up to Comerica Park after checking out the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, one of the many non-sporting attractions on his must-see list.
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The Tigers rolled out the red carpet.
"It's my first time in any ballpark," Hur said. "I was geeking out watching the players warm up – and then suddenly, Jahmai Jones approaches me."
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Hur discovered Jones during the World Baseball Classic, learning about how Jones represented Team Korea as a way to honor his mother, who was born in South Korea and adopted to the United States. That connection made Jones eligible to play for South Korea, even though he was born in Roswell, Georgia.
Just like that, Hur became a big fan of Jones.
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"When I saw him come up to me, I couldn't believe it," Hur said.
The jersey wasn't just a nice gift, it included a personal touch.
Jones signed the Team Korea jersey in both English and Korean. He accidentally spelled his name wrong in Korean, prompting Hur to correct him.
"He got it wrong at first and corrected it," Hur said. "That makes it even more special."
The jersey idea from the Tigers came together quickly.
But it wasn't easy.
Wael Ankouni , the Tigers' social media manager, tracked down a blank Team Korea jersey from a small store called Peligro Sports in New York. Ankouni had the jersey customized with "Jones 15" and rushed to Detroit in time for Hur's first game.
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That's when Jones got involved.
"As soon as I brought it up to Jahmai, he's like, 'Absolutely, let's do it,'" Ankouni said. "He knew who Tom was right away."
How did Hur react to Jones knowing him?
"Wow," he said.
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Detroit Pistons fan Tom Hur before a Detroit Tigers game against the Milwaukee Brewers at Comerica Park in Detroit, Michigan on April 21, 2026. (Monica Bradburn / Ilitch Sports)
The Tigers didn't stop with the jersey.
Hur watched Tuesday's game against the Milwaukee Brewers from the front row of the Priority Club, seated directly behind home plate. He was so close to the action that he wondered if he would be on television.
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"Am I going to be on camera?" Hur asked.
"Yes, you'll be on TV," Ankouni told him.
Hur couldn't contain his excitement.
His mouth dropped open.
His eyes grew wide.
"I'll be cheering the whole game," Hur said.
When Hur returns to South Korea, he plans to frame the Team Korea jersey signed by Jones in two languages.
The gift will forever remind him of a near 7,000-mile journey from Seoul to Detroit that started with Pistons basketball, then turned into a surreal Tigers baseball experience.
"I'm really glad I came here," Hur said.
Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold .
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers surprise Pistons fan Tom Hur with Jahmai Jones jersey
