New Los Angeles Dodger Shohei Ohtani on Thursday finally revealed that his dog's name is "Dekopin," the Japanese word for flicking someone's forehead.
"I figured it would be hard for people over here to pronounce it," the two-way star said during his introductory news conference with the Dodgers. "He has an American name. It's Decoy, so you can call him Decoy or Dekopin."
Young people in Japan often flick each other's forehead in a type of schoolyard high jinks, but why Ohtani chose the name remains a mystery.
When Ohtani was named the American League's unanimous MVP for the second time in three years on Nov. 16, Dekopin made a surprise TV appearance and garnered worldwide fame, prompting people to search out the breed and try to buy one.
Speculation even swirled that Ohtani would not reveal the dog's name because it could be something referencing an MLB team, which may have given a hint as to where he was leaning in free agency.
Related coverage:
Baseball: Shohei Ohtani says Dodgers' winning mentality motivated move
Baseball: Long road brings Shohei Ohtani to Dodgers at the right time
Baseball: Dodgers announce 10-year contract with Ohtani
