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On August 28, 2024, Shohei Ohtani’s dog Decoy delivered a ceremonial first pitch to him at Dodger Stadium during Ohtani and Decoy bobblehead night. Decoy carried the ball from the mound to Ohtani; MLB’s recap described the delivery as a strike, though it was a ceremony, not a regulation pitching performance.
Ohtani carried Decoy to the mound, placed a baseball on the ground, walked behind home plate and gave his dog the signal. Decoy picked up the ball, ran to Ohtani and completed the playful delivery to a huge reaction from the Los Angeles crowd.
How Decoy delivered the first pitch
The scene was simple and perfectly suited to Decoy. Ohtani carried his dog onto the mound before the Dodgers played the Baltimore Orioles. After setting Decoy down, Ohtani placed a baseball in front of him and moved to the area behind home plate.
When Ohtani prompted him, Decoy grabbed the ball in his mouth and ran across the field to his owner. That successful retrieve-and-run is why fans and headlines described it as a “perfect first pitch.” It was not a literal baseball throw, and it was not an official pitching performance or statistic.
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MLB’s recap described the delivery as a strike. This was a ceremonial pregame presentation, not a regulation pitch by a player.
Decoy wore Ohtani’s No. 17
Decoy took part in the ceremony wearing a custom jersey featuring Ohtani’s No. 17. The outfit made the unusual first pitch even more recognizable and connected the dog to the Dodgers star’s identity on the field.
The crowd responded loudly when Decoy returned the ball. The Associated Press described nearly 54,000 people as watching the ceremonial pitch. The moment was brief, but it had all the ingredients of a viral sports clip: a superstar, a beloved pet, a stadium full of fans and a trick that worked as intended.
The first pitch was rehearsed
Although Decoy’s appearance looked spontaneous, Ohtani had been teaching him the routine for about three weeks. The pair also completed a test run at Dodger Stadium before the event, according to MLB.
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That preparation matters. Decoy was not expected to understand baseball rules or throw a regulation strike. He was trained to retrieve the ball and bring it to Ohtani in a noisy, unfamiliar setting. The sources do not detail a specific command or training technique.
Why so many fans were there
Decoy’s appearance was part of a Dodgers promotion centered on an Ohtani-and-Decoy bobblehead. MLB reported that fans began lining up around 5 a.m. Pacific Time, with about 20,000 people outside the ballpark roughly four hours before the game. MLB also reported that about 2,000 gold-edition bobbleheads were included in the promotion.
The bobblehead promotion and the first-pitch appearance made the night a celebration of Ohtani and his dog, rather than an ordinary game. Ohtani said through interpreter Will Ireton that he was surprised by the lines when he arrived with his family, adding that he had not realized what was happening.
Ohtani followed Decoy with a big game
After Decoy’s ceremonial delivery, Ohtani led off the game with a home run against Baltimore pitcher Corbin Burnes. He also stole two bases as the Dodgers beat the Orioles 6–4, according to MLB’s recap.
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Those baseball accomplishments were separate from Decoy’s first-pitch routine. The dog’s contribution was the successful ceremonial delivery that started the evening.
Who is Shohei Ohtani’s dog?
Ohtani revealed his dog’s name in December 2023. The dog is called Decoy in English and Dekopin in Japanese. Ohtani explained that “Decoy” would be easier for American fans to pronounce.
The Associated Press identifies Decoy as a Dutch kooikerhondje. The Dodger Stadium first pitch was one of the clearest examples of how the dog had become part of the public side of Ohtani’s life.
A children’s book inspired by Decoy
Decoy Saves Opening Day is a fictional picture book inspired by Decoy’s first-pitch moment. CAA’s rights catalogue lists a US publication date of February 3, 2026, and says the story is set around Opening Day. It is not a nonfiction account of the August 2024 ceremony.
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What “perfect first pitch” really means
“Perfect” is a playful description of the moment, not an official baseball statistic. Decoy did not throw a regulation pitch or record a pitching result; he completed a ceremonial retrieve-and-run delivery.
- What happened: Decoy picked up a baseball and ran it to Ohtani.
- When: August 28, 2024.
- Where: Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles.
- Why it was called perfect: The trained routine worked and the ball reached Ohtani.
- What it was not: A regulation pitching performance or official player statistic.
FAQ
Did Shohei Ohtani’s dog really throw the first pitch?
Not literally. Decoy picked up the baseball in his mouth and ran from the mound to Ohtani, who was positioned behind home plate. MLB described the ceremonial delivery as a strike.
When did Decoy deliver the first pitch?
Decoy delivered the ceremonial first pitch at Dodger Stadium on August 28, 2024, during Ohtani and Decoy bobblehead night.
What is Shohei Ohtani’s dog’s name?
He is called Decoy in English and Dekopin in Japanese. Ohtani said Decoy would be easier for American fans to pronounce.
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What breed is Decoy?
The Associated Press identifies Decoy as a Dutch kooikerhondje.
Was Decoy’s first pitch an official MLB statistic?
No. It was a ceremonial pregame delivery, not a regulation pitching performance or an official player statistic.
The Bottom Line
Decoy did not throw a regulation pitch, but he completed the routine Ohtani had taught him: pick up the baseball and bring it from the mound to his owner. On August 28, 2024, that ceremonial delivery became one of Dodger Stadium’s memorable pregame moments.
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