Shohei Ohtani took how some hardware and his best buddy seemed to be just as thrilled as he was.
The two-way superstar claimed his second unanimous American League MVP award on Thursday night, but before his name was called, he eagerly awaited the news with his dog by his side.
As he was named the top player of the American League for the second time in three years, Ohtani and his pup shared an adorable moment with a high-five and some well-deserved head scratches.
Baseball fans seemed enamored with Ohtani’s love for his beautiful dog.
“Respect the respect he has for his pup,” wrote one user on X.
Another user things the dog should be awarded with goodies after Ohtani’s big win.
“I hope that good boy got lots of treats for helping daddy win,” they wrote, and Ohtani did just that during his sitdown with MLB Network.
With Ohtani set to reach free agency and potentially get a record deal, fans also seem to think his value has gone up with the dog.
“He has a Beagle??? This guy just keeps getting better and better!” one user wrote.
ESPN’s Mina Kimes, who has her own popular dog, Lenny, and is a noted Mariners fan, now is really pushing for her favorite team to make a move at Ohtani.
“DO WHATEVER IT TAKES @mariners,” she wrote on X.
The Mariners are going to have stiff competition for Ohtani, who will have one of the most intriguing free-agent periods in major league history.
Despite missing extended periods of time with injuries — including a torn ulnar collateral ligament that has forced him off the mound until at least 2025 — Ohtani led the AL with 44 homers and led the entire majors with a .654 slugging percentage and 1.066 OPS.
When he was on the mound, he had 167 strikeouts in 132 innings with a 3.14 ERA.
Wherever Ohtani goes next, he’ll have his elite skills and a dog that stole the baseball world’s heart with him.