Ohtani’s homer and dog celly

Shohei Ohtani opened the April 10 game against Texas with a leadoff homer, then broke out his now-familiar Decoy dog celebration as the clip spread across Major League Baseball social feeds. (mlb.com) The homer was Ohtani’s fourth of the 2026 season, and ESPN’s game log listed him at 4-for-53 with 4 home runs through 14 games after the Dodgers’ 8-7 win over the Rangers at Dodger Stadium. (espn.com) The Dodgers won on Max Muncy’s ninth-inning walk-off homer after Ohtani’s first-inning shot tied the score at 1-1. The April 10 result pushed Los Angeles to 11-3. (espn.com) The celebration traces back to August 28, 2024, when Ohtani’s dog Decoy delivered a ceremonial first pitch at Dodger Stadium before Ohtani homered in a 6-4 win over Baltimore. ESPN reported that Decoy ran the ball from the mound to Ohtani behind the plate and finished with a high-five. (espn.com) Major League Baseball’s own coverage said that 2024 game drew 53,290 fans and coincided with a bobblehead giveaway featuring Ohtani and Decoy. The dog became a recurring part of Dodgers celebrations after that night. (mlb.com) By November 2024, Decoy was riding in the Dodgers’ World Series parade in downtown Los Angeles, where Major League Baseball described him as a celebrity attraction alongside Ohtani. (mlb.com) Major League Baseball kept leaning into the bit in 2025 and 2026, from a children’s book built around Decoy to a February 2026 feature naming him the sport’s first “Most Valuable Dog.” Those official promotions helped turn a one-night gag into part of Ohtani’s public image. (mlb.com 1) (mlb.com 2) So when Ohtani homered again this week and flashed the dog celly, fans were not seeing a random gesture. They were seeing a callback to a Dodgers moment that Major League Baseball has spent nearly two seasons helping turn into a trademark. (mlb.com 1) (mlb.com 2)