The Washington Nationals are adding a new member to the roster, and this one might steal the MLB show.
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Meet Natty, an 8-week-old Golden Retriever and Labrador mix set to make his "Major League debut" as the team's official dog on May 15 when Washington hosts the Baltimore Orioles.
Yes, it is real. Yes, it is amazing.
Natty earned his name through a fan vote and is already living the big-league life. He made the trip from Northern California to the D.C. area earlier this month and is now working with his puppy raisers while learning the basics. Good manners. Commands. Getting comfortable around people. Standard rookie stuff.
Except this rookie also has bats, balls and gloves in the rotation.
i am three baseballs tall pic.twitter.com/75Kkq6QV7c
— natty (@natspup_) May 11, 2026
The Nationals partnered with Canine Companions and Eukanuba to bring Natty aboard, and there is a bigger purpose here. After about 18 months of training, the goal is for Natty to become a full-fledged service dog for someone in need.
So while he will be making appearances at games and community events, he is also putting in real work behind the scenes.
Also worth noting, his debut lines up with Hot Dog Day at Nationals Park. That is either perfect timing or very confusing for Natty.
Either way, the Nationals just added a fan favorite before he has even taken the field.
