Shohei Ohtani and his wife, Mamiko Tanaka, have become parents to a baby girl.
Ohtani shared the joyful news on social media Saturday, posting a photo of the baby’s feet along with a heartfelt message. The couple’s dog, Decoy, also made an appearance in the photo. However, the baby’s name was not disclosed in the post.
“I am so grateful to my loving wife, who gave birth to our healthy, beautiful daughter,” Ohtani wrote. “To my daughter, thank you for making us nervous yet incredibly excited parents.”
Ohtani, the reigning National League MVP, stayed in Los Angeles this weekend to be with his family, missing the Dodgers’ series in Arlington, Texas against the Rangers. He was placed on the paternity list on Friday.
After the three-game series in Arlington, the Dodgers will head to Wrigley Field for two games against the Chicago Cubs before returning home on Thursday. The team will begin a six-game homestand starting Friday, with matchups against the Pittsburgh Pirates and Miami Marlins.
To fill Ohtani’s spot on the roster, the Dodgers called up veteran Eddie Rosario from Triple-A Oklahoma City. Rosario has been impressive, batting .339 with a .948 OPS at the minor league level.
Ohtani also expressed gratitude to the Dodgers organization, his teammates, and fans for their ongoing support. “I would like to thank the Dodgers organization, my teammates, and the fans for their constant support and kind words,” he said. “I also want to thank the medical professionals and everyone who helped us up to this wonderful day.”
Ohtani revealed his marriage to Tanaka last spring, just before the Dodgers played a series in Seoul, South Korea, against the San Diego Padres. That year, Ohtani went on to achieve the historic feat of becoming the first player in MLB history to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in a season. In December, the couple shared they were expecting their first child with a photo that also featured their dog, Decoy.
So far this season, Ohtani has been performing well with the Dodgers, batting .288 with a .930 OPS, six home runs, eight RBIs, and five stolen bases over 20 games. The Dodgers have a 15-6 record heading into Saturday’s game against the Rangers, sitting just half a game behind the Padres for second place in the NL West.
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