Shohei Ohtani and Mamiko Tanaka are expecting their first child, the Los Angeles Dodgers star announced.
The National League MVP took to Instagram to announce the news on Saturday and posted a photo of the baby’s scan alongside his dog, Decoy, dailymail.co.uk reported.
“I can’t wait for the little rookie to join our family soon!” Ohtani wrote in the post.
The Japanese slugger, who will become a father for the first time, closes a year in which he has been constantly in the headlines.
2024: an unforgettable year for Shohei Ohtani
Ohtani signed a $700 million, 10-year contract with the Dodgers, later married Mamiko Tanaka, was in the eye of the hurricane for a betting scandal involving his former interpreter, and helped his new team win the World Series in his debut season with the Angels.
Ohtani and Tanaka were married in a secret ceremony in early 2024. The Japanese baseball sensation, who is extremely private about his personal life, announced a few weeks later that he was married to the “mystery woman.”
“I started a new chapter in my career with the Dodgers, but I also started a new life with someone from my home country, Japan, who is very special to me,” Ohtani posted on social media.
Who is Mamiko Tanaka?
Tanaka is a 28-year-old former Japanese basketball player who played in her country’s top women’s league.
The couple was recently photographed together at an NBA game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Portland Trail Blazers in early December
The Japanese couple’s pregnancy announcement is a more than adequate end to a very busy year, but one that was marred by the aforementioned illegal gambling scandal.
Shortly after signing with the Dodgers, news broke that Ippei Mizuhara, his personal interpreter, stole millions from him to fund a growing gambling habit.
Mizuhara was also a close confidant of the star baseball player, pleaded guilty and the FBI said Ohtani was nothing more than a victim.
After that dark episode in Ohtani’s life, the 30-year-old carried an offense during the regular season and stayed healthy until Game 2 of the World Series, before injuring his left shoulder while trying to steal second base against the New York Yankees and ended the Fall Classic playing hurt.
He underwent surgery a few days after the Dodgers celebrated their championship in early November.
“I don’t have full range of motion yet, but I feel much better,” he said. “There is no pain. Obviously there is still a little bit of tightness, but slowly it’s getting better.”
Ohtani is also pitching in the 70 mph range, which is typical for pitchers at the beginning of the offseason.
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