Shohei Ohtani Celebrates MVP Win with a Kiss for His Dog

Shohei Ohtani, the Los Angeles Dodgers star, made headlines not just for his impressive performance on the field but for a heartwarming moment with his dog, Decoy. Following his fourth career MVP award, which he secured on November 13, Ohtani chose to celebrate by kissing Decoy rather than his wife, Mamiko Tanaka, who was cheering him on from the sidelines.

The announcement came from former Toronto Blue Jays bench coach Don Mattingly during a live broadcast on MLB Network. As the camera panned to Ohtani, he was comfortably seated on a couch with Decoy nestled between him and Tanaka. When Mattingly called out Ohtani’s name, the athlete offered a brief round of applause before leaning down to kiss his furry companion.

Reflecting on his achievement after the affectionate display, Ohtani expressed gratitude for the support he received throughout the season, particularly after hitting a career-high 55 home runs. “The biggest thing is obviously being able to win the World Series,” he stated through an interpreter. “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.”

Ohtani’s unique talent as a two-way player—excelling both as a hitter and a pitcher—has captivated fans and analysts alike. He mentioned his eagerness to return to pitching at the start of the next season after recovering from elbow surgery that sidelined him until July 2025.

Decoy has become a beloved figure in the baseball community, often accompanying Ohtani to games, parades, and even All-Star events. The dog has been featured on custom cleats and is the subject of an upcoming children’s book set to release in 2026. Additionally, Decoy received an honorary visa from the U.S. Embassy in Japan, further solidifying his status as a baseball celebrity.

During Ohtani’s bobblehead night in 2024, Decoy even took center stage by delivering the first pitch. The dog successfully retrieved the ball from the mound and brought it back to Ohtani, who was waiting behind home plate. “It’s a really special night,” Ohtani remarked at the time. “I hope to buy some special snack for him.”

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts expressed admiration for Decoy’s training and performance. “I heard that Decoy was going to throw the first pitch, and I’m impressed that the dog was already that trained,” Roberts commented. “I guess if it’s Shohei’s dog, nothing should be that surprising. That was pretty impressive.”

Ohtani’s unanimous MVP win saw him receive all 30 first-place votes, with Kyle Schwarber of the Philadelphia Phillies finishing second and Juan Soto of the New York Mets taking third place. In the American League, Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees also celebrated his third MVP award, narrowly defeating Cal Raleigh of the Seattle Mariners. Judge shared this moment with his family and their two dogs, Gus and Penny.

While Decoy remained calm during Ohtani’s announcement, Gus was less reserved, barking joyfully in celebration of Judge’s win.