Washington Nationals to debut team puppy Friday vs. Baltimore Orioles

Natty, the official dog of the Washington Nationals, poses for a photo Monday at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C. Photo by the Washington Nationals Baseball Club

May 11 (UPI) -- Natty, an 8-week old puppy, will make his big-league debut as the official team dog of the Washington Nationals on Friday, the team announced.

The Nationals said in March they acquired a dog. They conducted a fan vote to determine the name of the golden retriever/Labrador retriever whom they plan to include in community events and attend select home games.

The first 20,000 fans who arrive for Friday's game with the Baltimore Orioles will also receive a hot dog themed hat.

The Nationals shared several photos and videos of Natty on social media Monday, with the puppy running around Nationals Park and receiving pets from players. The electronic banner at the stadium read: "Welcome, Natty!"

"While it will be a great day to introduce a Team Dog, it'll be a bad day to be a hot dog at Nationals Park, as the ballpark will enter a full state of glitzy madness for Hot Dog Day," the Nationals said in a news release.

The Nationals, who partnered with Canine Companions and Eukanuba for the initiative, plan to help Natty with socialization skills for his future as a service dog. He will work alongside team staff, players and fans, as well as with professional trainers over the next 18 months. At the end of the training, he will become a service dog for someone with a disability.

Fans can follow Natty on social media at natspup on Instagram and natspup_ on X. The first pitch for the Nationals-Orioles game is set for 6:45 p.m. EDT Friday in Washington, D.C.