Shohei Ohtani, the talented two-way player for the Los Angeles Dodgers, has announced his debut as a co-author of a children’s book featuring his dog, Decoy. The book titled “Decoy Saves Opening Day”, which will also involve co-author Michael Blank and illustrator Fanny Liem, is set to be released on February 3, 2026, just prior to Ohtani’s ninth season in baseball.

Decoy the dog

Publisher Harper Collins describes the plot as follows: “It’s going to be the best day ever, but – oh, no! – Decoy forgot his lucky baseball at home! Can he get his ball and make it back to the stadium before it’s too late?”

Decoy has recently gained some fame due to humorous rumors that his name hinted at Ohtani’s potential free agency decisions.

Ohtani, currently 31 years old, is having another outstanding season and is in contention to win his third consecutive MVP award, boasting impressive stats such as a .276 batting average, 32 home runs, and a remarkable 4 Wins Above Replacement.