The book is available to preorder now, and follows Decoy as he throws the first pitch
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Shohei Ohtani is adding children’s book author to his resume. The two-way Dodgers superstar will release Decoy Saves Opening Day on Feb. 3, 2026. It’s inspired by his beloved Kooikerhondje, Decoy Ohtani, who has become something of an unofficial mascot among Dodgers fans due to his frequent appearances with Ohtani.
The book, from publisher HarperCollins, is written by Ohtani and Michael Blank, with illustrations by Fanny Liem. In the book, Decoy is supposed to throw the Opening Day pitch, but he forgets his lucky baseball at home and has to run to get it before it’s too late.
The book is based (loosely, of course) on a real event, when Decoy “threw” the first pitch during an August 2024 Dodgers home game. Decoy, wearing a #17 jersey, ran the ball from the pitcher’s mound to Ohtani at home plate, making him the first dog to deliver the opening pitch (not for nothing, the game resulted in a Dodgers win). Ohtani shared a photo on Instagram featuring Decoy next to the book.
The game also marked Shohei Ohtani bobblehead night, with fans lining up to snag a limited edition bobblehead featuring Ohtani and Decoy. Decoy also accompanied Ohtani during the Dodgers’ World Series Parade in November 2024, following the team’s win over the Yankees in the 2024 World Series.
