Shohei Ohtani's Dog Decoy 'Throws' the Perfect First Pitch on Pup's Bobblehead Night

Mar. 15, 2025

Shohei Ohtani and his dog Decoy.Photo:Los Angeles Dodgers/X

Los Angeles Dodgers/X

Shohei Ohtaniof the Los Angeles Dodgers isn’t the only baseball pitcher in his home.

On Wednesday, Aug. 28, thousands of fans watched Dekopin"Decoy,“Ohtani’s dog, deliver a perfect first pitch to his owner for their bobblehead night at Dodger Stadium.

Footage of Decoy’s first pitch shows the dog fetching the ball more than throwing it. In the clip of the pup’s pitch, Decoy grabs the ball with his mouth and runs it from the pitcher’s mound to Ohtani, who is squatting in the batter’s box.

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Shohei Ohtani and dog Decoy.Los Angeles Dodgers/X

According to Major League Baseball’swebsite, around 20,000 people waited outside four hours before the first pitch, excited to collect their giveaway bobbleheads.

Reutersreports that the “Shohei & Decoy” figure features Ohtani smiling while holding his Dutch Kooikerhondje.

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Decoy’s adorable first pitch appears to have acted as a good luck charm for Ohtani. The pet parent hit a lead-off home run and stole two bases in the Dodgers' home game against the Baltimore Orioles that followed Decoy’s pitch.

The Los Angeles Dodgers ended up winning the game 6-4.

“Shohei, his bobblehead night and to hit a homer and steal a couple bases,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told MLB. “I’m telling you, any big moment, he seems to rise up to the occasion.”

source: people.com