Shohei Ohtani's dog Decoy also received an honor while he accepted his award, being named the "Most Valuable Dog."

The New York branch of the BBWAA hosted its yearly dinner yesterday, handing out the 2025 annual individual awards. Besides Shohei Ohtani, who earned the National League MVP and was present to accept his honor, his dog "Decoy" received the "Most Valuable Dog" award from the association.

The official Major League Baseball social media account shared a photo of Shohei Ohtani holding Decoy and receiving the MVD medal on its behalf. The medal was engraved with the dog's English name "Decoy Ohtani," and the award's full title is "National League Most Valuable Dog Award." During a relatively quiet news period, this story became one of the top headlines on the MLB official website.

During the award ceremony, Shohei Ohtani delivered an acceptance speech in English lasting about two and a half minutes, where he specifically mentioned his dog: "Finally, I want to thank my family in Japan, and most importantly—my beloved wife Mamiko, my daughter, and Decoy. You make my life complete, and I appreciate you always being by my side. Thank you."

Decoy first appeared publicly during a 2023 interview when Shohei Ohtani learned he had been named the American League MVP. Over the past two years, the dog has become a fan favorite, not only participating in a Dodgers pregame first pitch but also being called by Ohtani as his "happiest moment" during his unprecedented 2024 season with "50 home runs and 50 stolen bases."