Decoy Saves Opening Day: A Bestselling Sports Picture Book about Shohei Ohtani's Dog, for Kids

by Shohei Ohtani, Michael Blank, Fanny Liem (Illustrator)

From Los Angeles Dodgers all-star Shohei Ohtani comes a fast-paced and heartwarming fictional story about his real-life dog Decoy’s first pitch on Opening Day of the baseball season.

Decoy can’t wait to throw the first pitch on Opening Day of the new baseball season! The stadium has hot dogs, the biggest backyard he’s ever seen, and thousands of his best human friends. 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?

Shohei Ohtani is the biggest name in baseball and a proud sponsor of animal rescue organizations. 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.

Step up to the plate with LA Dodger, all-star, and MLB MVP Shohei Ohtani in his adorable debut story about his even more adorable pup, Decoy.

Genres: Picture Books, Sports, Childrens, Animals, Dogs, Baseball, Juvenile

32 pages, Hardcover

Published February 3, 2026

Reviews

[Stay Fetters · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Decoy loved going to the baseball stadium. It smelled like Decoy's favorite things- fresh cut grass, hot dogs, and sunshine."

Baseball season is my absolute favorite season. I'm not fond of the warmer weather but I love baseball. It's one of the only things I watch on a regular basis. I mean, are you even surprised? I'm from Philly.

This book was super adorable. Even though I'm not a Dodgers fan, I am a fan of cute pups and baseball.

Play ball!

[Chance Burback · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars. Reading the title gives the ending away, but my niece can’t read so I guess that didn’t impact her experience

[Carrie Garlock · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is so cute. I love that Decoy got his own book. I am a huge baseball fan and Decoy has really helped bring more kids into the game. I hope he gets more books

[Anthony · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolute gem of a book! I read this to my girlfriend while she did her hair. She loved it!

[Lisa Davidson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is just an adorable little audiobook with such a cute story and fun effects. You can't go wrong mixing baseball and dogs.
Thanks to NetGalley for letting me listen to this audiobook

[Shaun Stanley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Decoy Saves Opening Day is a Harper Collin’s children’s book written by Shohei Ohtani and Michael Blanks with illustrations by Fanny Liem.

It’s Opening Day and Decoy is scheduled to throw out the first pitch. He has been practicing with his best buddy and owner Shohei Ohtani for weeks but when they arrive at the stadium, Decoy realizes he has lost his lucky baseball! Now Decoy will have to quickly find his lucky ball before the baseball season is in jeopardy!

MLB Opening Day was the absolute perfect time to read this cute children’s story. Baseball was one of my first loves but was put on the wayside in my late teens and early adult years. I got back into the sport about four years ago and Shohei Ohtani was a major factor is rekindling my love of the sport. He is more than just a NPB & MLB megastar, he is a generational talent and cultural icon. This story is a cute reimagining of when Shohei’s beloved Dutch Kooikerhondje, Decoy, threw out the first pitch in a Los Angeles Dodgers game in August of 2024. The artwork is adorable and would be a great book for any kid who loves baseball or dogs.

[Lindsay Evans · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advanced reader copy of this book and this is my honest review:

This was an adorable read for young baseball fans! You don't have to be a fan of Shohei Ohtani or the Dodgers to know and appreciate him as a significant leader in the sport. And young fans also know about his famous dog, Decoy. This book brings the two together for a sweet story young baseball fans can relate to and will want to read again and again. The illustrations are beautiful and will keep a child engaged during storytime, and the story itself is well-written and fun for both children and parents alike. I'd highly recommend for any baseball fan families!

[Cherié Burgett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley for the early read. While this would make for a really fun picture book, it was an incredibly short audiobook. I was picturing something longer since this was in audio format, but it was a traditional very short picture book.

The story was fun, involved baseball and my dogs, my son's two favorite things, and my middle schooler said if he were a lot younger and the target audience, he would have given it five stars, so that is what I am going with. Dogs and baseball -- what's not to love?

[CONSTANCE · Rating 5 out of 5]

Written by Shoehei Ohtani, the baseball all-star, is this fun story about a pro-baseball player and his dog, Decoy (an actual photo of the two of them are shown on the back of the book). Decoy is going to opening day with Shohei and both of them are so excited as Decoy is throwing out the first pitch. But, oh no, when they get to the ballpark, Decoy realizes he left their lucky ball at home. Can opening day be saved? A medium amount of text combined with cute illustrations makes this one a home run.

[Tracy S · Rating 4 out of 5]

Decoy saves opening day by Michael Blank and Shohei Ohtani is such a sweet book that features the real life duo of Dodger's baseball player Shohei Ohtani and his dog Decoy, A wonderful book for any child who is a fan of the Dodgers and MLB! It put a smile on my face and made me wish for Spring to arrive as soon as possible.

[Shireen Hakim · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not really a baseball fan, but I'm happy the Dodgers have being doing so well recently, and I love that Ohtani involves his cute dog.
This book is adorable and action-packed for kids. The illustrations of the dog are great and capture the playfulness and sweet character of the animal.

Thank you Harper Collins for the copy!

[Mulliken District Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

Calling all lovers of baseball! What a fun, cute book. A wonderful debut children's book from baseball star, Shoehei Ohtani.

[James Klagge · Rating 4 out of 5]

A brief cute story. Read it to my 7 and 11 year-old grandsons who are big baseball fans. Then the next day the 7-year-old read it to me (with a couple little prompts).

[Melki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Opening Day is finally here, and it's up to Decoy to throw out the first pitch. But . . . where is his lucky ball? A cute read for baseball fans and dog lovers.

[Kim! · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, you know I had to add this to my Goodreads lol! Read this with my niece. Shohei we love you!

[Jane Irish Nelson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Picture book. Cute story, sure to appeal to children, but I do not care for the style of the illustrations.

[Alina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adorable!

Really short and simple story.
Cute illustrations.
Great for kids or Dodgers fans (or dog fans~)

[Kelly]

Relatively cute.

[Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

this really happened and you MUST view the video right now.

[M · Rating 4 out of 5]

so cute!!! and biblically accurate

[Autumn Kearney · Rating 3 out of 5]

The best part about this book is that it supports pet adoption. Other than that, it was okay.

[Reilly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for this ALC! I loved it. It’s so cute. The narrator was great. If you have a little in your life who loves baseball or dogs or both, this one is for you. Let’s go baseball season!
Easy to follow and love. Definitely recommend.

[Min (slowest reader ever) · Rating 4 out of 5]

อ่านฉบับภาษาอังกฤษ: 3.75-4.25 ดาว

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