Updated
Updated · ESPN · Jun 20
Shohei Ohtani Misses Dodgers Game for 2nd Child's Birth
Updated
Updated · ESPN · Jun 20

Shohei Ohtani Misses Dodgers Game for 2nd Child's Birth

3 articles · Updated · ESPN · Jun 20

Summary

  • Ohtani sat out the Dodgers' 6-5 win over Baltimore on Friday after the team said he was away on paternity, with manager Dave Roberts expecting him back Saturday.
  • Instagram posts from Ohtani and wife Mamiko Tanaka early Saturday confirmed their second child had been born, saying they were "again overjoyed" by the arrival.
  • Los Angeles did not place Ohtani on MLB's paternity list, signaling the absence should be brief; Ryan Ward replaced him at designated hitter and batted seventh.
  • Roberts said he learned only very recently that Ohtani was becoming a father again, underscoring the couple's privacy a year after welcoming their first child in April 2025.

Insights

How will fatherhood of two impact Shohei Ohtani's historic two-way dominance on the field?
With a second child, will the intensely private Shohei Ohtani alter his multi-million dollar brand strategy?
As Ohtani's family grows, can the Dodgers' dynasty sustain its massive $413 million payroll?