Shohei Ohtani's Hidden Joy: The Secret Arrival That's Stirring Buzz
Los Angeles Dodgers star pitcher Shohei Ohtani is officially a dad times two! “We are again overjoyed to experience this wonderful day in our lives together,” Ohtani, 31, and his wife, Mamiko Tanaka, wrote in a joint Instagram statement shared Saturday, June 20. “Thank you for being born safely.” They continued, “We would also like to express our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has supported us throughout the journey.” Ohtani and Tanaka, 29, also shared an image of the newborn’s tiny toes peeking out of a blue blanket. The couple did not reveal the infant’s sex or name.
Ohtani, who did not previously announce that he and Tanaka were expecting again, had sat out the Dodgers’ Friday, June 19, baseball game. (The Dodgers ultimately beat the Baltimore Orioles 6-5.) “Shohei Ohtani is away from the team on paternity,” a post on the team’s X page read earlier on Friday. “He is expected to be back at some point this weekend.” Ohtani and Tanaka have been married since 2024, welcoming their first child the next year. “I am so grateful to my loving wife who gave birth to our healthy beautiful daughter," Ohtani wrote via Instagram in April 2025. "To my daughter, thank you for making us very nervous yet super anxious parents." He continued, “I would also like to thank the Dodgers organization, my teammates, and the fans for their constant support and kind words of encouragement. 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.”
Ohtani, who never publicly shared his daughter’s name, has long kept his family life private. “To all my friends and fans throughout, I have an announcement to make. Not only have I begun a new chapter in my career with the Dodgers but I also have began a new life with someone from my Native country of Japan who is very special to me,” he wrote via Instagram in February 2024, confirming his nuptials after signing with the MLB team. “I wanted everyone to know I am now married. I am excited for what is to come and thank you for your support.” Ohtani added at the time, “We are still young and [there are] many things we don’t know yet, but we hope you will warmly watch over us. We hope that the two of us (and one dog) will work together to support each other and move forward alongside with our fans.” Tanaka has since cheered on Ohtani’s Dodgers milestones, including the team’s 2025 World Series victory.
