Shohei Ohtani met with the media on Thursday evening for the first time since signing his record-breaking $700 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers. And while many of the questions touched upon Ohtani’s recent surgery and free agency, one reporter asked Ohtani the question many baseball fans really wanted to know.
What is the name of his dog?!
Ohtani’s dog stole the show during the live American League MVP announcement call with MLB Network. But at the time, Ohtani wouldn’t disclose the dog’s name, which fueled rumors that the name was somehow connected to his new team.
But no, the dog’s name is not Dodger — as some had speculated. Instead, the doggo is named “Dekopin” or “Decoy” for American fans.
Shohei has revealed the name of his dog pic.twitter.com/Y8qie38UWf
— CJ Fogler account may or may not be notable (@cjzero) December 14, 2023
Considering the drama over the mystery flight to Toronto (that ended up being Robert Herjavec’s flight home), Decoy is a pretty spectacular name for Ohtani’s dog. It summed up the free agency quite well.
MLB fans were also excited to finally learn Dekopin/Decoy’s name.
This was how Twitter reacted
The name of Shohei Ohtani’s dog?
Decoy. Legendary. pic.twitter.com/8sb6sYrcQA
— Ben Verlander (@BenVerlander) December 14, 2023
I’m sorry, but the fact that everyone was freaking out about Shohei’s dogs name being a clue to where he would sign and the dogs American name being “Decoy” is just pure comedy. pic.twitter.com/jklETiX3jU
— alana (@alanaben_) December 14, 2023
the way most shobaes knew shohei ohtani's dogs name was decoy but y'all didn't believe us lol pic.twitter.com/RU3W1rRv3M
— ❄️🧋 VforVera¹⁷🧋❄️ (@VforVintageVera) December 14, 2023
His dog's name is DECOY!!! That's what that Toronto flight was about… OMG pic.twitter.com/dbuih4IMST
— Mooney Owns You (@MooneyOwnsYou) December 14, 2023
The dog was literally a decoy
— Eric Stephen (@ericstephen) December 14, 2023
Ohtani's dog being Decoy is my favorite storyline in baseball history
— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) December 14, 2023
AKA the Blue Jays were a decoy all along. https://t.co/NddLjZo9a2 pic.twitter.com/Tzodi7d7k1
— Brian Lefevre (@LefevreFever) December 14, 2023
His dog is named decoy??? Like the plane to Toronto that costed us $100M more? pic.twitter.com/NRHBRdzdPf
— david christoff (@d_christophor) December 14, 2023
What if by saying his dog’s name is Decoy is actually just a decoy and his name is Dodger.
— Bernie Wong (@bernsonwong) December 14, 2023
