LOS ANGELES — Minutes into the main event, Shohei Ohtani took over the focus again. Thousands of people descended on Dodger Stadium hours before the first pitch against the Baltimore Orioles at 7:10 p.m. PT on Wednesday night in search of a bobblehead depicting Ohtani and baseball’s most famous Dutch decoy, Decoy. So many, in fact, that the traffic jam prompted manager Dave Roberts to stop and help escort a stadium employee into the stadium amid the commotion.

Ohtani made sure they didn’t go home empty-handed. He crouched behind home plate as Decoy threw him the ceremonial first pitch. When he returned in the bottom half of the first inning, he put on more of a show, hitting a slider off former Cy Young winner Corbin Burnes into the right-field seats for his 42nd home run of the season.

Decoy made the first pitch for Shohei Ohtani tonight! 🥹🐶 photo.twitter.com/zD7QsbX5SI

—MLB (@MLB) August 29, 2024

He finished the night with two stolen bases (now 42) as the Dodgers defeated the Orioles 6-4, maintaining their three-game lead in the NL West.

“I tell you, every key moment he seems to rise to the challenge,” Roberts said.

Ohtani’s first summer as the Los Angeles Dodgers has already fallen under the shadow of the Hollywood sign, with the organization quick to maximize the $700 million superstar not only for his prolific output on the field — on Friday night, Ohtani became the fastest player (and just sixth in major league history) to hit 40 home runs and steal 40 bases in a season — but also for several lucrative business opportunities off of it. Ohtani’s first bobblehead night in May against the Cincinnati Reds was a sellout, with 52,527 in attendance.

His second photo, of Ohtani holding his dog, had a Willy Wonka feel to it: several of the bobbleheads were painted gold. (Update: Several of the gold bobbleheads have already sold on eBay for around $1,400 each.) The photo drew an audience of 53,290 people, who watched as Decoy tossed the ball in his mouth to Ohtani in a unique ceremonial first throw.

Excitement level for Shohei and Decoy. 📈 photo.twitter.com/54viWyFYBY

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) August 29, 2024

Ohtani said he trained Decoy to perform the gambit for nearly three weeks, including a “trial run” recently at Dodger Stadium.

“It’s a very special night,” Ohtani said through interpreter Will Ireton. “I hope I can buy him a special snack.”

The lines began as early as 9 a.m. Wednesday and stretched all the way to Vin Scully Ave., outside the stadium’s main entrance. It confused even Ohtani, who said, “I thought there was some other special event going on” when he saw the massive crowd.

“I’m just glad I made it,” Roberts said before the game. “It’s unbelievable. I don’t know if it was Shohei or Decoy or a combo, but there’s a lot of demand for this damn bobblehead. It took me forever to get into Dodger Stadium. There was a long line. If you’re going to come, you better be gone.”

Enough people were in their seats in time for the real Ohtani to get their money’s worth.

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(Photo: Harry How/Getty Images)