It’s been almost a year since we were introduced to the goodest boy of Major League Baseball — the one and only Decoy Ohtani. With his human Shohei Ohtani set to take on the biggest stage in the World Series, let’s also take a look back at some of his four-legged bestie’s season highlights.
Most Valuable Pup
When Ohtani won the 2023 AL MVP Award unanimously in November 2023, he had a special furry guest seated beside him who easily stole the show. Just one problem — we didn’t catch his name!
Welcome to the Dodgers! First things first …
After Ohtani signed an unprecedented 10-year, $700 million deal with the Dodgers, the media flocked to Dodger Stadium for his introductory press conference with their hardest-hitting questions ready to go. The hardest hitting of them all, perhaps? What’s your dog’s name?! It’s Decoy! But his government name — or at least the one that shows up on his passport — is Dekopin, which means flicking someone’s forehead in Japanese.
First … fetch?
Immortalized with his human in the form of a (golden) bobblehead, Decoy was tasked with first pitch honors. Ever the team player, the pup of the hour delivered a perfect strike from the mound. Oh, and his dad went yard in his first at-bat.
As Dodgers announcer Joe Davis said: “Shohei Ohtani, meeting the moment, reading the room and leaving the yard!”
It’s called fashion, look it up
Ohtani, who had opted for a more subtle look on the All-Star Red Carpet in years past, debuted a one-of-a-kind suit inspired by little Decoy. That’s right: “I chose the color based on my dog, and here’s my dog in my suit,” Ohtani said through interpreter Will Ireton.
But that’s not all! For Players’ Weekend, Ohtani debuted a pair of custom cleats featuring Decoy, and they may have turned into a good luck charm of sorts. He wore them long after Players’ Weekend, including in the infamous 50-50 game, in which he went an absurd 6-for-6 with three homers, 10 RBIs and two steals. Pretty much everything he was wearing, including his cleats, went straight to Cooperstown. Yes, this means Decoy has his own little place in the Hall of Fame.
How The West Was Woof
When the Dodgers clinched the National League West, their 11th title in the past 12 seasons, Decoy was of course on hand. He joined Ohtani and his wife, basketball queen Mamiko Tanaka, on the field after the game — floppy ear and all — to celebrate his hard work cheering on his boys throughout the season.
Ohtani and the Dodgers’ job isn’t finished — and neither is Decoy’s. Could we see one more appearance by baseball’s furry icon? Four more wins could do the trick.
