Shohei Ohtani surprised fans by announcing on Instagram that he and his wife Mamiko Tanaka are expecting their first child. The Los Angeles Dodgers superstar didn’t reveal much about the due date or details about the upcoming child, but he did share a cute picture of his dog Dekopin.
This announcement adds to an eventful year for Ohtani, who signed a $700 million contract with the Dodgers, got married, faced embezzlement by a close friend, dealt with federal and MLB investigations, purchased a house, became MLB’s first 50-50 player, won a World Series, and won a third MVP award. He also underwent elbow surgery and spent the entire 2024 season rehabbing while playing as a full-time DH.
For most players, these events would be enough for a whole career, but for Ohtani, it’s just another year in the life of being MLB’s most talented and well-paid player.
Ohtani is known for keeping his personal life private, so details about the child may remain limited for some time. With Ohtani’s athletic prowess and Mamiko’s background as a professional basketball player, it’s safe to say that this child will likely inherit some impressive athletic genes. Let’s hope that the usual dad strength boost doesn’t give Ohtani an unfair advantage on the field.