Shohei Ohtani is in the spotlight again after winning the AP Male Athlete of the Year Award for 2024. This is his third time getting the honor. But while all the attention is on Ohtani, there is another star who is as famous in the Ohtani household—his dog Decoy. He immediately became a media sensation when Shohei introduced him to the world. The Nederlandse Kooikerhondje breed captured the hearts of many. It’s a rare breed and isn’t widely known outside of dog breeding circles, making him even more fascinating. The Dodger star even shared that he hopes Decoy’s popularity will spark more interest in the breed.

“The number of the breed has kind of dwindled, so by him gaining a little bit of popularity, hopefully that brings up the number of his breed,” Ohtani told the AP. And we saw Ohtani get his dog everywhere this year. Whether it was throwing the first pitch or when the Dodgers won the World Series and even when he got the MVP award. Decoy was always there, and it turns out he is not just there for those career-high moments but also when Shohei is out and about enjoying good food and great company!

Shohei Ohtani and Decoy’s day out

Shohei Ohtani and his dog Decoy, aka Decopin, stole the spotlight once again, and this time during the meet-up with celebrity chef Nobu Matsuhisa. The renowned culinary icon behind the famous Nobu restaurants shared the pictures on his Instagram. The chef posed with Shohei Ohtani and seemed like he was stunned at how tall the Dodger star really was.“Was I really that small? 😂,” was the caption Nobu Matsuhisa mentioned. The internationally acclaimed chef also cuddled with Decoy, who seemed to enjoy every moment of the attention.

Matsuhisa is known for his fusion cuisine, blending Japanese dishes with a Peruvian touch. He came to LA back in 1977 and well; he seems to be a true Dodger at heart. Because this isn’t the first time Shohei Ohtani and Nobu have crossed paths. Eight months back, Nobu had thrown the first pitch to kick off the series between the Washington Nationals and LA Dodgers. A true celebrity moment!

And not just that, Ohtani did visit his restaurant. Back in 2023, Ohtani had helped pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto land a $325 million deal with the Dodgers. Both the Japanese stars and good mates went out to celebrate. And yes, they indeed went to Matsuhisa Beverly Hills, where the world-famous sushi restaurant served them an array of delicious food and yummy desserts.

Ohtani equals Michael Jordan’s record

2024 was definitely the Shohei Ohtani year in MLB. He dominated, and how! The three-time MVP made history by becoming the first player to join the 50-50 club. He did more, with 54 runs and 59 stolen bases. This historic feat helped him secure his third Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year award. But it’s no surprise, is it, after that stellar year? With this award, he joins Michael Jordan as a three-time winner.

The fourth, too, doesn’t seem far off. The LA Dodgers are building a team other teams can only envy for 2025. And with such backing, Shohei Ohtani can maybe win his fourth award next year and join the likes of LeBron James and Tiger Woods. Ohtani talked about it recently: “Growing up in Japan, I did follow Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods. I would see their accolades and how they were successful in the United States.” Well, he could clinch 50-50 after recovering from an elbow injury; it’s only left to imagine what he can do next year.

Ohtani is now on top of everyone when it comes to getting the AP award in MLB. The only other baseball player who got it twice was Sandy Koufax. Well, Shohei Ohtani has yet again broken another record.