Super private MLB superstar Shohei Ohtani has shared the heartwarming news that he has become a father for the second time.
"We are again overjoyed to experience this wonderful day in our lives together," read a translated statement from Shohei and his wife Mamiko Tanaka. "Thank you for being born safely. We would also like to express our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has supported us throughout this journey."
© Shohei OhtaniThe carousel included a picture of their newborn's feet, and their pet Decoy, a Dutch Kooikerhondje.
Shohei was scratched from the Dodgers game on Friday, June 19, by manager Dave Roberts; fans had initially been concerned by the news, as the 31-year-old has been dealing with knee inflammation.
© Shohei OhtaniShohei and Mamiko tied the knot in February 2024. "The season is approaching, I am pleased to announce to you that I have gotten married," he said on social media after their wedding ceremony, revealing that he had known Mamiko for several years and that she was "very special".
He also requested that the media not reach out to his family and friends for information about his wife. "We are still young and [there are] many things we don't know yet, but we hope you will warmly watch over us," Shohei wrote in Japanese to Instagram.
© Getty Images"We hope that the two of us (and one dog) will work together to support each other and move forward alongside with our fans," adding: "I don't really feel comfortable talking about when I got married exactly."
They welcomed their first child, a daughter, in April 2025.
© Getty ImagesAlongside a photo of the newborn's feet, he captioned the Instagram post: "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."
They have never shared their daughter's name with the public.
© Getty ImagesMamiko, 28, is a former Japanese basketball player who played in the country's top women's league, a forward for the Fujitsu Red Wave in the Women's Japan Basketball league. Mamiko retired in 2023.
The pair have become known for their privacy, although Mamiko did visit Korea with her husband in March 2024, a month after their announcement, to cheer him on during an international game.
© X/TwitterShohei is one of the biggest stars in baseball, and signed a record $700 million 10-year contract with the Dodgers in 2023.
“She has a great understanding of my profession, and she’s willing to be wherever I wanted to play, and ultimately it was my decision,” Ohtani said via a translator the day after the announcement.
