Shohei Ohtani Steps Away from Dodgers for Birth of First Child

Shohei Ohtani has added a new title to his already impressive resume: dad-to-be.

The Los Angeles Dodgers' star slugger and pitcher was notably absent from the team on Friday, as he took paternity leave to be with his wife for the birth of their first child. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts confirmed Ohtani was officially on MLB's paternity list before the team's series opener against the Texas Rangers.

Roberts told reporters, "He and Mamiko are expecting at some point. That's all I know. I don't know when he's going to come back, and I don't know when they're going to have the baby, but obviously they're together in anticipation." Clearly, nobody's getting advance stats on this rookie addition.

Ohtani, 30, previously shared back in December on Instagram that he and his 28-year-old wife, a former professional basketball player from Japan, were expecting a baby in 2025. His announcement post was pure Ohtani: "Can't wait for the little rookie to join our family soon!" The post featured their dog Decoy, a pink frilly onesie, baby shoes, and a sonogram—topped with a baby emoji for that extra mystery.

Under MLB rules, Ohtani can miss up to three games on paternity leave. The Dodgers are in the middle of a three-game series in Texas, with a day off Monday before heading to Chicago to face the Cubs.