Shohei Ohtani has confirmed wife Mamiko Tanaka has given birth to their first child together, with the couple welcoming a baby daughter.
The LA Dodgers superstar wrote on Instagram: ‘Welcome to the Ohtani family! I am so grateful to my loving wife who gave birth to our healthy beautiful baby daughter.
‘To my daughter, thank you for making us very nervous yet super anxious parents.
‘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 was absent from the Dodgers’ series opener against the Texas Rangers on Friday after manager Dave Roberts revealed he had been placed on MLB’s paternity list.
Shohei Ohtani has confirmed wife Mamiko Tanaka has given birth to their first child together
The 30-year-old, who lives a very private life away from baseball, stunned the world last year when he revealed he was married in a shock Instagram post.
He also posted in late December that he and Tanaka – a 28-year-old former professional basketball player from his native Japan – were expecting a baby in 2025.
Ohtani can miss up to three games while on paternity leave. The Dodgers’ three-game series in Texas finishes on Sunday, before they visit the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday.
Roberts said before their second outing against the Rangers that the two-way sensation could return to his lineup as early as Sunday.
