Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani became a father months before his latest World Series run. The 31-year-old MLB sensation revealed in April that his wife, Mamiko Tanaka, had given birth to their first child—a baby girl.
### Shohei Ohtani and Mamiko Tanaka Welcome Their First Child
Ohtani announced the joyful news on Instagram, sharing a touching photo of the newborn’s feet alongside the family’s dog, Decoy. He wrote, “I am so grateful to my loving wife who gave birth to our healthy, beautiful daughter. To my daughter, thank you for making us very nervous yet super anxious parents.”
Following the birth, Ohtani briefly stepped away from the Dodgers in April to be with his wife and newborn before returning to the lineup. At that time, he was batting .288 with a .930 OPS, six home runs, and 21 runs scored.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts praised Ohtani for his impressive balance between baseball and fatherhood. Roberts joked about how the player’s legendary discipline might be tested by late-night feedings, saying, “He is a very good compartmentalizer. He loves his sleep. So it’ll be interesting to see how the sleep wins out, or it doesn’t win out, when you have a baby.”
### Chasing Another Championship
Now, months later, Ohtani and the Dodgers are once again chasing another championship. The team clinched a spot in the 2025 World Series after defeating the Milwaukee Brewers on October 17. They will open the series against the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday, October 24.
### Inside the Dodger Superstar’s Relationship
While Ohtani’s athletic career is one of the most public in the world, he has made a point to keep his personal life private. Fans were surprised in February 2024 when he revealed on Instagram that he had gotten married, writing:
> “Not only have I begun a new chapter in my career with the Dodgers, but I also have begun a new life with someone from my native country of Japan who is very special to me. I wanted everyone to know I am now married.”
At the time, Ohtani did not name his wife, but Japanese media later confirmed her as Mamiko Tanaka, a former professional basketball player. The couple made their first public appearance at the Los Angeles Dodgers Blue Diamond Gala in May 2024.
According to the Associated Press, just like her husband, Tanaka is a former elite athlete. She played basketball at Waseda University before joining Japan’s Women’s Basketball League with the Fujitsu Red Wave in 2019. As a forward, she shot 47.7% from the field and nearly 70% from the free-throw line before retiring in 2023.
The couple made their social media debut in March 2024 as they traveled to Seoul, South Korea, where the Dodgers opened the MLB season against the San Diego Padres in the “Seoul Series.” Fans welcomed them with cheers at the airport, and photos of the pair along with their dog, Decoy, quickly went viral.
Months later, Tanaka was spotted in Los Angeles cheering on her husband during home games. Though Ohtani rarely discusses his personal life, he has spoken about the importance of family and balance as he continues to make baseball history.
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