In a touching social media post, beloved Los Angeles Dodgers player Shohei Ohtani announced the birth of his first child, a daughter, on social media, welcoming the new baby to the world alongside his wife, Mamiko Tanaka, and sharing an adorable statement of gratitude to his team and the medical professionals who supported the couple before, during, and after the birth.
For context, Ohtani, who announced the birth of his daughter on April 18, 2025, is a Japanese professional baseball player who started his career in 2013 and currently plays for the Los Angeles Dodgers as a pitcher and designated hitter. As #17 on the Dodgers’ current roster, Ohtani goes by the nickname “Shotime” and previously played for the MLB team the Los Angeles Angels, as well as the Nippon Professional Baseball team the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters.
According to ESPN coverage, Ohtani was placed on the MLB’s paternity list by his team before their series opener, a Friday night game against the Texas Rangers. The Dodgers’ manager, Dave Roberts, told ESPN that after the team lost to the Rangers the previous Saturday, Ohtani texted him and said he would be back on Sunday for the series finale — the MLB’s paternity leave policy reportedly grants him a three-game break.
In his heartfelt Instagram post, Ohtani welcomed his new baby, adding a picture of his daughter’s tiny feet for good measure. He wrote, “Welcome to the Ohtani family! I am so grateful for my loving wife, who gave birth to our healthy, beautiful daughter.” He continued, “To my daughter, thank you for making us very nervous yet super anxious parents.”
Continuing, Ohtani went on to thank his team and the community surrounding the MLB, writing, “I would also like to thank the Dodgers organization, my teammates, and the fans for their constant support and kind words of encouragement.” He also sincerely thanked “all the medical professionals and everyone who dedicated their support to us up until this wonderful day.”
Ohtani announced that he and his wife were expecting several months before the birth. As reported by Fox News, prior to his daughter’s birth, Ohtani shared another adorable post on Instagram in late December with the caption, “Can’t wait for this little rookie to join our family soon!” The post featured a photo of Ohtani’s dog, Decoy, along with a pink onesie, baby shoes, and a sonogram, which Ohtani edited to cover it up with a baby emoji.
When Ohtani returned from paternity leave on April 20, 2025, the MLB website reported that the player was showing off his “dad strength.” Commenting on Ohtani’s commitment to both family and team, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said, “For him to just make sure the baby was healthy and to get back here, and to be a part of this, certainly shows his ability to balance life and work. Good to have him back, and most importantly, I’m happy him and Mamiko have a healthy baby girl.”
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Continuing, Roberts praised Ohtani for his sportsmanship and skill, telling the press, “‘Dad strength’ is real,” and continuing, “It’s amazing how hard Shohei hits the ball now. So now that he is a father, we might see some 120 [mph] exit velos off the bat. Something unprecedented.”
Featured image credit: Shohei Ohtani via Instagram