As any pet owner can attest, man’s best friend typically runs the household. Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani’s dog, Decoy, seems to be no exception.
Ohtani, 31, won his fourth career MVP award and third in a row in the National League on Thursday, November 13, and he celebrated by planting a kiss on Decoy’s face while his wife, Mamiko Tanaka, applauded beside them.
Former Toronto Blue Jays bench coach Don Mattingly, whose team just lost in the World Series to Ohtani’s Dodgers, made the announcement live on MLB Network. When the camera cut to Ohtani, he was watching from a couch with Decoy sitting between him and Tanaka.
When Mattingly, 64, said Ohtani’s name, the Dodgers star offered up some light applause before snubbing his wife in Decoy’s favor.
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After kissing Decoy, Ohtani reflected on his latest MVP award on the heels of his career-best 55-home run season.
“The biggest thing is obviously being able to win the World Series,” he said through his interpreter, per MLB.com. “That’s first and foremost. You know, it’s icing on the cake just to be able to get an individual award, being crowned MVP, but I just really appreciate the support from all my teammates, everybody around me, my supporting staff.”
A rare two-way player, meaning Ohtani both hits and pitches, he added that he hopes to be pitching from the start of next season. He did not take the mound in 2025 until July as he recovered from elbow surgery.
Fans have known Decoy for a while now, as Ohtani has turned him into a baseball celebrity. Apart from bringing him to the ballpark, World Series parades and All-Star red carpet, Ohtani has featured Decoy on custom cleats, written a children’s book about him due out in 2026, and gotten him an honorary visa from the U.S. Embassy in Japan.
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On Ohtani’s bobblehead night in 2024, Decoy even delivered the first pitch, picking up the ball on the mound and bringing it to his human, who was crouched behind home plate. Ohtani later said he spent three weeks working with Decoy to make sure he was ready.
“It’s a really special night,” Ohtani told MLB.com at the time. “I hope to buy some special snack for him.”
His manager, Dave Roberts, wasn’t surprised that the pooch was able to rise to the moment.
“I heard that Decoy was going to throw the first pitch, and I’m impressed that the dog was already that trained,” he said. “I guess if it’s Shohei’s dog, nothing should be that surprising. That was pretty impressive.”
While Ohtani won the award unanimously, taking home all 30 first-place votes, the Philadelphia Phillies’ Kyle Schwarber placed second and Juan Soto of the New York Mets came in third.
In the American League, New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge won his third career MVP award, edging out Cal Raleigh of the Seattle Mariners. Judge, 33, also watched the announcement with his family, including wife, Samantha Bracksieck, and their two dogs, Gus and Penny.
Unlike Decoy, who sat quietly through the proceedings, Gus began barking in celebration.
