Los Angeles, CA — In a heartwarming moment far from the roar of the crowd and the crack of the bat, Dodgers two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani is celebrating a life-changing milestone—the birth of his first child. Ohtani and his wife, Mamiko Tanaka, welcomed a healthy baby this week, ushering in a new era of joy and purpose for one of baseball’s brightest stars.
The couple, who have largely kept their relationship private, made the surprise announcement through a statement released by Ohtani’s agency on Wednesday morning. “We are overjoyed to announce the birth of our child,” Ohtani shared. “Both Mamiko and the baby are doing well, and we are overwhelmed with gratitude. This is the most beautiful and humbling experience of my life.”
Sources close to the family reveal that the birth came slightly earlier than expected, catching even Ohtani himself off guard in the midst of a red-hot start to the 2025 MLB season. “He was in total shock—he thought he had at least another week,” a teammate joked. “But he couldn’t stop smiling once he got the call.”
The Dodgers granted Ohtani paternity leave immediately, and he left the team’s road trip to be with Mamiko and the newborn. Though the name and gender of the baby have not yet been publicly disclosed, fans and teammates alike are already calling the child “Little Sho.”
Messages of congratulations have poured in from across the baseball world. Teammate Mookie Betts shared, “Shohei already does everything at the highest level—now he’s about to be an MVP dad, too.” Even rivals chimed in, with Angels slugger Mike Trout posting, “Huge congrats to Shohei and Mamiko! What a moment.”
This milestone adds another layer to Ohtani’s whirlwind year. After signing his historic $700 million contract with the Dodgers and leading the team through an electric opening stretch, he now enters the season of fatherhood with the same grace and focus that’s defined his career.
Fans gathered outside Dodger Stadium have already started leaving flowers, baby gear, and handwritten notes to show support. One sign hanging near the gates read, *“From MVP to Dad of the Year—Congrats Shohei!”*
Though he’ll be away from the lineup for a few games, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts assured fans there’s no worry. “He’s earned this moment. Baseball can wait—life like this only comes once. We’re thrilled for him.”
As Ohtani adjusts to life with a newborn, the baseball world celebrates a different kind of miracle—a reminder that even for superstars, the greatest joys often come far from the spotlight.
