Shohei Ohtani has new venture up his sleeve — a children's book
Just days after the two-way star's fifth All-Star appearance, Ohtani, 31, announced that he is coming out with a children's book.
Ohtani posted to his Instagram on Thursday that he had co-written a children's book about his dog, Decoy.
Advertisement
The book, titled 'Decoy Saves Opening Day,' is available for preorder and is set to be released in February of next year.
According to the book's website from publisher HarperCollins, the story is about Decoy forgetting his lucky baseball when he is set to throw out the first pitch on Opening Day.
Advertisement
Shohei Ohtani smiles after grounding out during second inning of the National League's win over the American League on July 15, 2025, in Atlanta.
AP
The website also says Ohtani plans to use the profits from the book to help non-profit animal rescue organizations.
'Shohei Ohtani is the biggest name in baseball and a proud sponsor of animal rescue organizations,' the website reads. 'Shohei and Decoy hope to use the publication of 'Decoy Saves Opening Day' to support the work these amazing nonprofits do helping 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.'
Outside of the book writing, Ohtani is ramping up his full-time pitching comeback for the Dodgers.
Advertisement
Shohei Ohtani delivers a pitch in the first inning of the Dodgers' 2-1 win over the Giants on July 12, 2025 in San Francisco.
Getty Images
In his final outing before the All-Star break on Saturday, Ohtani threw three scoreless innings in the Dodgers' 2-1 victory over the rival Giants.
The three-time MVP allowed just one hit while striking out four in his fifth appearance this season.
'Overall a very efficient outing,' Ohtani told reporters through an interpreter. 'I was glad that I was able to prevent runs and we were able to keep the lead throughout the game.'
Advertisement
Ohtani, who did not pitch during the 2024 season, also said he felt his command is improving.
'Aside from the stuff, I'm more happy with the command of my pitches and being able to attack the zone,' Ohtani said. 'Today was one of those days where my fastball felt pretty good, so I leaned on it a little bit more today.'
At the plate, he leads the National League with 32 home runs and a .988 OPS.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Post
10 minutes ago
- New York Post
Liberty continue to play it safe as Nyara Sabally deals with ‘discomfort' flare up
We've got you covered on the Liberty beat Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Madeline Kenney about all things Liberty and WNBA. tRY IT NOW There's a saying in sports: Availability is the best ability. Unfortunately for Nyara Sabally, the Liberty backup center has struggled with that over the course of her first three years in the WNBA. Advertisement Sabally rested during the midseason break, according to coach Sandy Brondello, but she had 'a little bit of discomfort' flare up, resulting in her missing at least two games for what the team called 'rest.' Sabally didn't play in the Liberty's win against the Fever on Tuesday out of the All-Star break nor did she suit up to help New York thump the Mercury 89-76 on Friday. 4 Sabrina Ionescu, Nyara Sabally of the New York Liberty and Satou Sabally of the Phoenix Mercury pose for a picture after the game between the Phoenix Mercury and the New York Liberty during a WNBA game on July 25, 2025. NBAE via Getty Images And Brondello doesn't anticipate Sabally playing Saturday against the Sparks, either. Advertisement 'We're taking the time with her,' Brondello said. The Liberty have the depth to play it extremely safe with Sabally's tenuous knee. Jonquel Jones is back in action after missing a month with a sprained ankle. Advertisement Isabelle Harrison, who has been playing a lot better over the past few games, can give the Liberty quality minutes and Breanna Stewart can play a five when needed. 4 Nyara Sabally of the New York Liberty and Satou Sabally of the Phoenix Mercury smile after the game between the Phoenix Mercury and the New York Liberty on July 25, 2025. NBAE via Getty Images 4 Kelsey Mitchell of the Indiana Fever drives to the basket as Nyara Sabally of the New York Liberty gives chase during the second quarter. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post 'We didn't want to risk forcing her back when we kind of just got JJ back, too,' Brondello said. 'We've got that depth here, so giving her the time that she needs, and I don't know what that looks like but we have it right now, so let's utilize it.' Advertisement Kayla Thornton's breakout season came to a premature end this week. Thornton, just days removed from her first All-Star appearance, underwent season-ending knee surgery Friday after she suffered an injury at practice this week, the Valkyries announced. Thornton, whom the Valkyries plucked from the Liberty in the expansion draft this past offseason, was having a career season, averaging 14 points, seven rebounds and 1.3 steals per game. 4 Kayla Thornton of the Golden State Valkyries during the 2025 AT&T WNBA All-Star Game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on July 19, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Getty Images Brondello sent Thornton a message as soon as she heard the heartbreaking news. 'She will always be a part of something special that we did here,' Brondello said. 'It's unfortunate, but I know she'll have the right mentality and she'll come back better and stronger than ever.' Covering the Liberty like never before Sign up for Madeline Kenney's Inside the Liberty, a weekly Sports+ newsletter. Thank you Enter your email address Please provide a valid email address. By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Enjoy this Post Sports+ exclusive newsletter! Check out more newsletters Advertisement Jones, in her second game back after missing a month with an ankle sprain, recorded 20 points and 11 rebounds. It was her seventh double-double in 11 games this season and the Liberty improved to 29-0 all-time when Jones gets a double-double. New York's starting lineup featuring Natasha Cloud, Sabrina Ionescu, Leonie Fiebich, Stewart and Jones improved to 9-0 this season. The Liberty close out their July homestand Saturday when they host the Sparks. New York will then head out on a road trip where they will play four games in seven days.
Fox Sports
10 minutes ago
- Fox Sports
Eovaldi pitches 5 scoreless innings as Rangers beat Braves 8-3
Associated Press ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Nathan Eovaldi pitched three-hit ball over five scoreless innings in his first start since the All-Star break and the Texas Rangers beat the Atlanta Braves 8-3 on Friday night. Eovaldi (8-3) threw 53 of his 86 pitches for strikes as Texas won its fourth straight and handed Atlanta a third straight loss. He struck out seven but walked a season-high four. It was also Eovaldi's first start since the Rangers paid him a $100,000 All-Star Game bonus even though the 35-year-old wasn't selected despite a 7-3 record and a 1.58 ERA. He missed his first start after the break — a matchup with AL All-Star starter Tarik Skubal and the Tigers — with back tightness. Sam Haggerty singled leading off the first against Joey Wentz (2-2) before stealing his 10th base and scoring on a sacrifice fly by Marcus Semien for a 1-0 lead. Jonah Heim hit his ninth home run — a two-out shot in the second for a 2-0 lead. Wyatt Langford had a two-out RBI double in the fourth and Sam Haggerty doubled in a run in the fifth for a 4-0 advantage. Three singles, two walks, a hit batter and a sac fly led to four runs in the eighth. Michael Harris II hit his eighth home run — a leadoff shot off Jacob Latz in the seventh to cut it to 4-1. Wentz allowed four runs in 4 1/3 innings. Corey Seager went 0 for 3 but walked twice to extend his on-base streak to 25 games for the Rangers. Austin Riley went 0 for 4 in his first game for Atlanta since suffering an abdominal strain on July 11. Key moment Texas had allowed two runs or fewer in a club-record-tying seven straight games until Caleb Boushley surrendered two in the ninth to end the run. Key stat Seager is the only player to have an on-base streak of 24-plus games in each of the last three seasons. Up next Braves RHP Grant Holmes (4-9, 3.81) starts against Rangers rookie RHP Kumar Rocker (4-4, 5.66) on Saturday. ___ AP MLB: recommended Item 1 of 2
Fox Sports
10 minutes ago
- Fox Sports
Schwarber's 1,000th hit is 319th homer, topping McGwire for most to the mark
Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — Kyle Schwarber topped Mark McGwire for most home runs among a player's first 1,000 hits, hitting long ball No. 319. 'I don't know if that's a good thing or not,' the Philadelphia Phillies slugger said. Ten days after lifting the National League to victory in the first All-Star Game swing-off, Schwarber keeps going deep. He hit a pair of two-run homers in a 12-5 victory over the New York Yankees on Friday night. The first drive, his milestone hit, started the comeback from a 2-0 deficit. He even got the ball back after it was grabbed by a Phillies fan attending with his friends in Yankee Stadium's right-center field seats. 'I saw it on the video and then I see the dude tugging. I'm like: `Oh, they all got Philly stuff on.' That was cool." Schwarber said. He met the trio after the game, gave an autographed ball to each and exchanged hugs. When he went to get a third ball to autograph, one of the three said he just wanted the potential free agent to re-sign with the Phillies. 'You show up to the field every single day trying to get a win at the end of the day and I think our fans kind of latch on to that, right?' Schwarber said. 'It's been fantastic these last 3 1/2 years, four years now, the support that we get from our fans and it means a lot to me that you know that they attach theirselves on our team.' Schwarber tied it at 2 in the fifth against Will Warren when he hit a 413-foot drive on a first-pitch fastball. After J.T. Realmuto's three-run homer off Luke Weaver built a 6-3 lead in a four-run seventh and the Yankees closed within a run in the bottom half, Schwarber sent an Ian Hamilton fastball 380 feet into the right-field seats. Schwarber reached 1,000 hits with eight more homers than McGwire. Schwarber has 36 homers this year, three shy of major league leader Cal Raleigh, and six homers in seven games since he was voted All-Star MVP. He has 33 multi-homer games. 'I don't know where we'd be without him,' Phillies manager Rob Thomson said. 'Comes up with big hit after big hit after big hit. It's just — it's amazing.' Schwarber is 32 and eligible for free agency this fall after completing a $79 million, four-year contract. He homered on all three of his swings in the All-Star Game tiebreaker, and when the second half began Phillies managing partner John Middleton proclaimed: 'We love him. We want to keep him." 'He's been an incredible force all season long,' Realmuto said. 'What he's meant to his team, his offense, it's hard to put in words.' A World Series champion for the 2016 Chicago Cubs, Schwarber has reached 35 homers in all four seasons with the Phillies. He's batting .255 with 82 RBIs and a .960 OPS. He also has almost as many home runs as singles (46). Schwarber had not been aware he topped McGwire for most homers among 1,000 hits. 'I had no clue. I even know it was my 1,000th, to be honest with you,' he said. ___ AP MLB: recommended Item 1 of 2
