Countless stories have been written about Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani. It turns out, the record-setting two-way star has been doing some writing of his own.
Ohtani announced a new children’s book, “Decoy Saves Opening Day,” with an Instagram post of his dog, Decoy, on Thursday.
The 32-page book, which Ohtani co-authored with Michael Blank, is set for release next February. The cover is an illustration of Ohtani and his dog, who is holding a baseball in his mouth.
According to the publisher HarperCollins, the plot follows an excited Decoy before he has to throw the first pitch of Opening Day. But Decoy realizes that he left his lucky baseball at home.
“Can he get his ball and make it back to the stadium before it’s too late?” teases the blurb on the Harper Collins website.
Ohtani is hoping to use the book’s sales to support animal rescue nonprofits, according to the publisher.
The three-time league MVP is batting .276 with 32 home runs, 60 RBIs and 91 runs scored this season, with the team set to resume play Friday night against the Milwaukee Brewers at Dodger Stadium. Slowly resuming his two-way star duties, Ohtani has pitched nine innings over five games since mid-June as he returns from elbow surgery in September 2023.
Decoy memorably delivered a ceremonial first pitch before a Dodgers game against the Baltimore Orioles last August, coinciding with a bobblehead giveaway that featured both Ohtani and his dog.
Decoy and Shohei with the cutest first pitch you’ve ever seen.
pic.twitter.com/fEoFRxMOH4
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) August 29, 2024