Shohei Ohtani's Dog Throws Out First Pitch At Dodgers Game

Sho-time took on a whole new meaning at the Los Angeles Dodgers game on Aug. 28.

Superstar Shohei Ohtani’s dog, Decoy, threw out the first pitch before the team’s game against the Baltimore Orioles at Dodger Stadium.

Clad in a Dodgers jersey with Ohtani’s number 17, Decoy was placed on the pitcher’s mound by Ohtani before grabbing the ball in his mouth and racing it to home plate where the two-time American League MVP was kneeling, waiting for the ball.

Ohtani then pet Decoy, who got on his back paws to give his owner a high-five when Ohtani put his right hand in the air.

The moment was as cute as it sounds, and fans loved it.

“Dudes dog is more famous than 99.9999% of the world,” one person commented.

“The best player with the best Dogo,” someone else wrote.

“That’s adorable can’t lie,” another person chimed in.

“Superb dog training,” someone else raved.

Ohtani said he has spent some time over the last three weeks training him in anticipation of the first pitch, according to MLB.com, with the pair even going through a dry run beforehand.

“It’s a really special night,” Ohtani said. “I hope to buy some special snack for him.”

Decoy became a bit of a sensation after Ohtani signed a massive 10-year, $700 million contract with the Dodgers in December 2023.

“So his name is Dekopin, that’s a Japanese name,” Ohtani said during a Dec. 14 press conference. “I figured it would be hard for American people to pronounce it so he has an American name and it’s Decoy.”

Decoy's first pitch on Aug. 28 was part of a memorable night for Ohtani, who led off the bottom of the first inning with a solo home run. He would tack on a pair of stolen bases later in the game, en route to a 6-4 Dodgers win.

Ohtani now has 42 home runs and 42 stolen bases on the season and is within range of becoming the first player in Major League Baseball history to smack 50 homers and steal 50 bases in a season, as he makes a case to claim the National League MVP Award in his first season in the league.

The game also featured an Ohtani bobblehead giveaway, which prompted long lines outside the stadium hours before doors opened. MLB.com estimated 20,000 people were waiting outside the stadium four hours before it even opened.

“I was surprised as well when I came to the park with my family,” Ohtani said about the frenzy. “I wasn’t really aware of the situation. I thought it was some other special event going on.”