Shohei Ohtani, the Los Angeles Dodgers' two-way star, is expanding his talents into writing with the announcement of a children's book titled "Decoy Saves Opening Day." The book features his dog, Decoy, and was co-authored by Michael Blank. Ohtani shared the news through an Instagram post on Thursday, showcasing an illustration of himself and Decoy with a baseball in the dog's mouth, created by artist Fanny Liem.
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The 32-page book, set to be released next February by HarperCollins, tells the story of Decoy, who must retrieve his lucky baseball at the last minute before throwing the first pitch on Opening Day. Ohtani is also noted for his support of animal rescue organizations and hopes that the book will help raise awareness and support for these nonprofits that assist dogs in finding homes.
As of the All-Star break, Ohtani is having an impressive season, boasting a batting average of .276 with 32 home runs and 60 RBIs. He has pitched nine innings across five games as he rehabilitates from elbow surgery performed in September 2023.