Shohei Ohtani, above, and wife Mamiko Tanaka are first-time parents.Photograph: Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images
Shohei Ohtani has added a new title to his already decorated résumé: father.
The Los Angeles Dodgers’ two-way superstar announced the birth of his first child, a daughter, in an Instagram post Saturday. Ohtani, 30, shared a photo of the newborn’s tiny feet cradled in two hands, along with a message expressing his gratitude and wonder at becoming a parent for the first time.
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“Welcome to the Ohtani Family!” he wrote. “I am so grateful to my loving wife who gave birth to our healthy beautiful daughter. To my daughter, thank you for making us very nervous yet super anxious parents.”
Ohtani is currently on Major League Baseball’s paternity list and missed the Dodgers’ weekend series against the Texas Rangers. He is eligible to miss up to three games, with the club off Monday before heading to Chicago for a series with the Cubs starting Tuesday.
The baby’s arrival marks the latest milestone in a whirlwind 16 months for Ohtani. After signing a record-shattering $700m contract with the Dodgers in December 2023, the three-time AL MVP revealed he had quietly married Mamiko Tanaka, a former professional basketball player in Japan. The couple had kept their relationship private, with Ohtani only confirming their marriage after joining the Dodgers.
Tanaka, 28, played collegiately at Waseda University before joining the Fujitsu Red Wave of the Women’s Japan Basketball League, where she competed from 2019 to 2023. The couple also share a dog, Dekopin, who has become a fan favorite on Ohtani’s social media accounts.
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In his Instagram post, Ohtani extended his thanks beyond family. “I would also like to thank the Dodgers organization, my teammates, and the fans for their constant support and kind words of encouragement,” he wrote. “I would also like to express my sincere gratitude to all the medical professionals and everyone who dedicated their support to us, up until this wonderful day.”
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts announced the birth on Saturday’s game broadcast from Arlington, Texas. “Congratulations Sho!” Roberts said, adding with a smile that he wasn’t yet sure of the baby’s name.
Ohtani, who helped lead the Dodgers to a World Series title last fall, is off to a strong start in his second season with the club. Through 21 games, he’s batting .288 with six home runs, eight RBIs, and a .930 OPS.
