Five Furry Pets That Will Melt Your Heart

Warning: This article may cause you to impulsively purchase a dog, though I promise you you won’t regret it if you go through with it. And for all the cat lovers, I bet this will make you think again.

As we all know, the stars of the show are usually the athletes. However, since National Puppy Day is approaching in two weeks, I think the players’ pups deserve a little recognition. I mean, after you read this, I guarantee you’ll agree with me when I say the pups should be allowed in the stands watching their owners every game. I know there have been individual nights at MLB games for puppies permitted to attend, but they are family too. It’s only fair they get to cheer on their owner every night as well.

5. Kobe Machado

I am not usually one to gravitate toward small dogs, but I will admit that my opinion changed when I saw 3B Manny Machado’s dog. Machado named his fur baby after the basketball legend, Kobe Bryant. Kobe is an Alaskan Klee Kai, and if I could, I would adopt one right this second.

How can anyone resist his cute face! His beautiful coloring and precious puppy dog eyes can make anybody an animal lover. Not to mention his name is an homage to an all-time great. He has also been in puppy calendars with his dad multiple times. It is safe to say that Kobe Machado is a showstopper in my books.

4. Draco Betts

It’s hard not to love everything about OF Mookie Betts and his family since they are the absolute cutest. If you disagree with me on that statement, look at their most recent member and tell me otherwise.

This past Christmas, Betts and his family had an eventful holiday season. Betts and longtime girlfriend Brianna Michelle celebrated their engagement, though that wasn’t even the best news. They also welcomed a new puppy, Draco, an adorable, head-turning mastiff and the latest best friend to 2-year-old Kynlee Betts. You can often find Kynlee and Draco running around in the backyard on Michelle’s Instagram, playing fetch and occasionally dressing up. His gentle nature is what strikes me the most as he seems to love giving kisses and cuddles!

3. Harley Verlander

Now I know everyone has mixed opinions on the Houston Astros. Yet, no one can deny how cute SP Justin Verlander’s puppy is. Verlander has been a dog dad for a while now. Before he and his wife, Kate Upton, adopted a boxer named Harley, Verlander had another puppy, Riley, who died a few years earlier.

Verlander and Riley were quite the duo when Riley was still running around, but Harley is adorable. His little pink beauty mark on his nose, along with his big eyes and ears, are probably my favorite aspects about this pup. He is also Instagram famous with more than 14K followers, and his content does not disappoint. You can tell he worked hard for those fans, and I may or may not be one of them.

2. Groot and Rocket Correa

We are down to the final two spots, and this duo takes second place. Again, back with another Astros player, so I apologize in advance. Although, I am sure you can forget about the 2017 World Series scandal for just a second after seeing these partners in crime. Astros SS Carlos Correa is a fur parent to these two cuties, Groot and Rocket, named after the Academy Award-winning movie Guardians of the Galaxy.

These best friends are also on the list of Instagram famous puppies with more than 13K followers. They can be found on their account relaxing on pool floaties in the water and playing fetch in the yard. Groot is the troublemaker of the two, always getting up to no good by chewing up everything in sight and even getting to one of Correa’s home run balls, as seen on social media. Despite their incriminating behavior — they must have gotten it from their dad — they’re still utterly adorable, and no one can deny that.

1. Tex and Cal Marisnick

This last one may be a little biased since my all-time favorite dog breed is the golden retriever. Their adorable face, golden fur and gentle manner win me over every time, so it is no surprise that this is No. 1 on my list. Chicago Cubs OF Jake Marisnick and his fiance Brittany Perry adopted the pals a few years ago and have lived their best lives ever since.

These brothers are a little more low profile on Instagram with just over 600 followers. However, they also are dominating TikTok, which is why they are my No. 1. They enjoy dancing to viral tunes and going on grocery store trips in shopping carts. And if that doesn’t melt your heart, they even dressed up as dragons from Game of Thrones in a couples costume with their parents. To top it all off, they will fetch your golf balls. I know, I’m in love too. In a recent video posted to Marisnick’s Instagram, Marisnick chips rubber golf balls while Cal and Tex try to catch them mid-air. I have watched the video over 100 times and still can’t get enough of it. They are just too perfect for words.

Well, there you have it, my top five favorite MLB dogs. As I said, I apologize if your outlook on the superior pet has wavered; I think we can all agree that dogs take that title.

Cover photo courtesy of Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images