Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani announced Saturday that he and his wife, Mamiko, have welcomed their first child, a baby girl.
“I am so grateful to my loving wife who gave birth to our healthy and beautiful daughter,” Ohtani shared in an Instagram post. “To my daughter, thank you for making us very nervous yet super anxious parents.”
Ohtani was placed on Major League Baseball’s paternity list on Friday and did not travel with the Dodgers for their series against the Texas Rangers. He is expected to return within three days, potentially rejoining the team during their next stop in Chicago against the Cubs.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Ohtani had not discussed his impending fatherhood with the team but joked, “He’s a very good compartmentalizer, but he loves his sleep. It’ll be interesting to see how the sleep wins out or doesn’t win out when you have a baby.”
Ohtani also expressed appreciation to his teammates, the Dodgers organization, and fans for their support.
The reigning National League MVP, who has hit six home runs in the Dodgers’ first 20 games, continues to rehab from his second elbow surgery as he prepares for a return to pitching.