Shohei Ohtani just added a new title to his already legendary résumé—Dad. And it might be his best one yet.
The Los Angeles Dodgers superstar shocked fans once again this weekend, but not with a home run or a pitching stat. Instead, the reigning NL MVP revealed on Instagram that he and his wife, Mamiko, have welcomed their first child, a baby girl.
“I am so grateful to my loving wife who gave birth to our healthy and beautiful daughter,” Ohtani wrote in a heartfelt post. “To my daughter, thank you for making us very nervous yet super anxious parents.”
The news came after Ohtani was placed on Major League Baseball’s paternity list Friday, causing him to stay behind in Los Angeles while the team traveled to Texas for a series against the Rangers. Players on paternity leave are allowed up to three days off, and while Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said he’s not sure exactly when Ohtani will return, fans might see him back in action as soon as the team’s matchup against the Cubs in Chicago on Tuesday.
The announcement was met with an outpouring of love from fans and fellow players. In typical Ohtani fashion, he remained humble and grateful, also thanking the Dodgers organization, his teammates, and his fans for “their constant support and kind words of encouragement.”
Back in January, Ohtani teased the world with the announcement that he and Mamiko were expecting, posting a wholesome photo of their dog Decoy alongside a pink baby onesie. Now, that moment has turned into a full-fledged milestone for the 30-year-old phenom.
And while he’s not currently on the mound as he continues rehab from a second elbow surgery, Ohtani has still been making waves at the plate with six home runs in the Dodgers’ first 20 games of the season.
As for life as a new dad? Manager Dave Roberts had one hilarious observation:
“He’s a very good compartmentalizer, but he loves his sleep,” Roberts joked. “It’ll be interesting to see how the sleep wins out or doesn’t win out when you have a baby.”
Sleep or not, it’s safe to say Shohei Ohtani just hit the most important home run of his life.
