Ronald Martinez/Getty Images
Los Angeles Dodgers fans flocked to Dodger Stadium in order to receive Shohei Ohtani’s bobblehead on Wednesday night.
Bleacher Report @BleacherReport
This line for Shohei Ohtani’s bobblehead night…
Fans started lining up SEVEN HOURS before the game 😅 @BRWalkoff
Los Angeles Dodgers @Dodgers
Excitement level for Shohei and Decoy. 📈 pic.twitter.com/54viWyFYBY
Alden González @Alden_Gonzalez
First pitch from Dodger Stadium is in 3 1/2 hours, and this is just a sampling of the people lining up to walk through the gates and obtain a Shohei Ohtani bobblehead. Every gate has thousands of people waiting outside of it. pic.twitter.com/freVsOoMPj
Andy Mac @ItsAndyMac_
The line for the Shohei Ohtani bobblehead at the @Dodgers game is OUTRAGEOUS. The game doesn’t begin for 5 more hours.
The first 40,000 fans in attendance for Los Angeles’ clash with the Baltimore Orioles will secure a bobblehead featuring the two-way superstar as well as his dog, Decoy.
Los Angeles Dodgers @Dodgers
Gold Shohei and Decoy bobbleheads? Be ready for 8/28. 👀 ⁰⁰🎟️: https://t.co/36IUWLzvoH pic.twitter.com/F0QWghmDQt
According to ESPN’s Alden Gonzalez, fans were spotted lining up outside the stadium as early as 10 hours before the first pitch of the game.
The giveaway also included a limited number of gold bobbleheads featuring the Dodgers star and his dog.
MLB @MLB
Someone has pulled a gold Shohei Ohtani and Decoy bobblehead during the giveaway at Dodger Stadium tonight 🤩 pic.twitter.com/s9tpqLFQxs
Decoy also made a special appearance ahead of the game, “throwing” out the first pitch:
FOX Sports: MLB @MLBONFOX
Decoy delivered the first pitch to Shohei Ohtani on their bobblehead night 🐶🥹
MLB @MLB
Decoy fetched the first pitch tonight for Shohei Ohtani! 🥹🐶 pic.twitter.com/zD7QsbX5SI
That alone might have been well worth the price of admission for fans.
Meanwhile, even manager Dave Roberts had a difficult time entering the stadium due to the long lines.
“I’m just happy that I made it,” Roberts said, per Scott Chiusano of MLB.com. “It’s unbelievable. I don’t know if it was Shohei or Decoy or a combo, but there’s a high demand for this dang bobblehead. It took me forever to get inside Dodger Stadium.”
The popularity of Ohtani’s dog has grown in popularity since he revealed his companion after accepting the 2023 American League MVP award. The four-time All-Star recently wore cleats inspired by Decoy during MLB Players’ Weekend.
Even though he won’t be returning to the mound until the 2025 season, Ohtani is in the midst of an incredible year at the plate. He’s hitting .294 with 41 home runs and 94 RBIs, posting a National League-leading .994 OPS.
The 30-year-old also became the sixth player in MLB history to record at least 40 steals to go along with 40 homers in a single season on Friday.
MLB @MLB
#WALKOFF GRAND SLAM
TO JOIN THE 40-40 CLUB
THERE IS ONLY ONE SHOHEI OHTANI. pic.twitter.com/FksrBJCDSV
Ohtani’s Dodgers career is off to an exceptional start, and it’s clear that fans are already infatuated with him as well as Decoy.
