clutchpoints
Shohei Ohtani's dog, Decoy, delivered another scene-stealing moment on Thursday. While the Los Angeles Dodgers superstar was being interviewed on MLB Network before the NL MVP announcement, he kept petting and stroking his faithful dog, which appeared to be wearing a green hoodie, as it sat on his lap during the questions.
Decoy's appearances on MVP announcement shows have become a yearly tradition. The dog first showed up in 2023, when Ohtani was still a member of the Los Angeles Angels. Decoy returned in 2024 as Ohtani captured the NL MVP in his debut season with the Dodgers.
Thanks to those occasional TV cameos, Decoy has become a full-fledged celebrity. The Dodgers hosted a Decoy bobblehead night in 2024, and Ohtani released a children's book about Decoy earlier this year.
This year's appearance, however, did not coincide with another Ohtani MVP award. The Dodgers star's run of three straight MVPs came to an end as Chicago Cubs outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong won the award unanimously. Ohtani finished second following what he himself described as a frustrating season.
After a promising start, Ohtani's performance declined significantly, partly due to injury. By September and October, he looked like a shadow of his usual self, and the Dodgers' bid for a third consecutive World Series title fell short against the Milwaukee Brewers in the NLCS.
An offseason of rest at home with Decoy may be just what Ohtani needs to return to top form by the start of next season.
Originally reported by clutchpoints.