2 weeks Ago By Andrew Gamble
The Los Angeles Dodgers are set to be without Shohei Ohtani for an uncertain length of time as he awaits the birth of his child. On Friday, the Dodgers placed World Series champion Ohtani on MLB ’s paternity list. The 30-year-old and his wife Mamiko are set to welcome their first child over the weekend.
While the Dodgers departed Los Angeles to travel to Texas for a three-game series against the Rangers , Ohtani - who was with the team when they visited the White House earlier this month - stayed home to tend to his wife. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts revealed the Japanese phenom could rejoin the team in Texas before the end of the series on Sunday, but could not offer details. “He and Mamiko are expecting at some point, that's all I know,” Roberts told reporters.
“I don't know when he's going to come back.” Ohtani can stay on the paternity list for three days. Roberts claimed he and Ohtani hadn't yet discussed his impending fatherhood but hopes the four-time All-Star is prepared for sleepless nights.
“He's a very good compartmentalizer, but he loves his sleep,” Roberts said. “It'll be interesting to see how the sleep wins out or doesn't win out when you have a baby.” Back in January, Ohtani took to Instagram to announce that he and Mamiko were expecting their first child.
The photo included their dog, Decoy, posing along with a pink onesie infant’s outfit. After putting pen to paper on a blockbuster $700 million deal with the Dodgers in free agency ahead of the 2024 MLB season, Ohtani announced in February 2024 that he had gotten married - which came as a surprise given the discreet nature of his private life. Weeks later, he revealed his wife was former professional basketball player Mamiko Tanaka.
For the 2025 season so far, Ohtani has 23 hits and 8 RBI in 80 at-bats. While also stealing five bases, the three-time MVP has struck six home runs and is currently averaging .288 at the plate.
Ohtani’s paternity leave comes at a somewhat fortunate time, too. He is currently continuing his rehabilitation following a second elbow surgery as the two-way superstar looks to make his much-anticipated return to the pitcher’s mound. Without Ohtani, the Dodgers secured a 3-0 win over the Rangers on Friday.
Tommy Edman struck the game’s sole home run, while Teoscar Hernandez and Will Smith also got home for the reigning champion Dodgers. The 15-6 Dodgers take on the 12-8 Rangers in the second of their three-game series on Sat., April 19.
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