Do you remember when Decoy first captured hearts? Last year, when he was seated beside his dad for the 2023 AL MVP Award ceremony, yes, Shohei Ohtani may have broken all records and etched his name in the history of baseball, but Decoy aced in being MVP of cuteness. But Decoy’s star power didn’t stop there—his popularity only soared higher this 2024 MLB season.

Decopin, aka Decoy, was there for all his dad’s important moments. He was in Shohei’s arms in the parade after they won the World Series, and he was beside Shohei when he clinched his NL MVP award unanimously. Since then, Decoy’s popularity has now increased even more; he just got a shoutout at the National Dog Show, proving he’s just as famous as his dad, Shohei Ohtani.

When another dog of the same breed, the Nederlandse Looikerhondje, came to the event as a participant, the announcer couldn’t help but drop Decoy’s name. While the contestant pup was doing his thing, the announcer brought up the fact that his breed has become famous after Decoy’s popularity, claiming, “The Nederlandse Kooikerhondje, very famous in this country, all of a sudden with Shohei Ohtani and his dog, Decoy. Shohei, of course, was the MVP for the National League.”

“Decoy threw out the first pitch of a Dodgers game this year. It was beautiful and also was a big part of the parade for celebrating their World Championship,” he added. Interestingly, the Netherlands Kooikerhondje was originally a duck-hunting dog from the Netherlands. They nearly went extinct during World War II, but because of good breeding efforts, they were revived. This breed is known for their friendly nature, along with a beautiful orange and white coat. While they are rare in the US, thanks to Decoy, the breed is gaining more popularity.

The time when Decoy threw the first pitch with Shohei Ohtani!

Decoy Ohtani made history as he became the first dog to do the ceremonial first pitcher at the LA Dodgers game against the Baltimore Orioles, and it was a sight to see! Decked in a custom jersey, Decoy was carried to the mound by Ohtani before waiting for a signal to fetch. While the duo enjoyed a beautifully executed playtime, in the end, Ohtani did give him a high-five and a treat.

The entire stadium, full of 53,000 fans, erupted in applause, with Shohei Ohtani later revealing that it took three weeks to prepare his dog for the moment, but it was ‘really special’. The excitement didn’t stop there; fans received Decoy bobbleheads, and Ohtani even smashed his 54th homer of the season. Also, did you know those bobbleheads led to a flurry of fans and traffic congestion? Even Dave Roberts was floored by Decoy, who said, “If it’s Shohei’s dog, nothing should be that surprising.”

What’s your take on Decoy matching his dad in terms of popularity? Let us know below.