Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani pens first children’s book inspired by beloved dog

Los Angeles Dodgers phenom Shohei Ohtani is apparently not satisfied with being just an elite pitcher and hitter — now he’s giving writing a try.

On Thursday, the multi-talented MLB slugger announced the pre-order of his first children’s book: “Decoy Saves Opening Day.” The book will be hitting shelves early next year.

The story is inspired by Ohtani’s beloved dog who shares the same name as titular character, and was written by Ohtani alongside author Michael Banks, with illustrations by Fanny Liem.

The plot of the three-time MVP’s authorial debut follows Decoy on baseball’s opening day as he prepares to throw the first pitch to start the season. But trouble arises when Decoy forgets his lucky baseball at home.

“Can he get his ball and make it back to the stadium before it’s too late?” the book’s promotional page teases.

While the storyline might seem far-fetched, Decoy did in fact “throw” out the first pitch at Dodger Stadium last season.

Ohtani, an advocate for animal rescue and adoption efforts, hopes that the book release will help support the “amazing nonprofits” that help dogs find their forever homes.

“While their fictional counterparts are saving opening day, Shohei and Decoy are working to help real-life animals in need,” the book’s website reads.

“Decoy Saves Opening Day” is set to be released on Feb. 3, 2025. Additional information and pre-order resources can be found here.