Shohei Ohtani Misses Game, Announces Baby Number Two

When Shohei Ohtani sat out the Los Angeles Dodgers’game against the Baltimore Orioles on Friday night, the baseball world was ready with explanations. A left knee issue here, a blister on the right hand there—the kind of minor ailments that keep even superstars on the bench during a long season. Fans and analysts speculated. The lineup dropped two hours late. The mystery deepened.

Then Saturday morning arrived, and the real story broke wide open. Ohtani announced via Instagram that he and his wife, Mamiko Tanaka, had welcomed their second child. No mystery. No injuries. Just a dad stepping away to be present for one of life’s biggest moments. The pitcher and batting sensation posted a photo of the newborn dressed in blue, cradled in a matching blue blanket, but kept the specifics—name and gender confirmation—private. What he did share was the emotion: both he and Mamiko are“overjoyed.”

This is Ohtani’s second time around the parenting block. The couple welcomed their first child, a daughter, back in April 2025, though they’ve chosen to keep her name out of the public eye. That’s a deliberate boundary in an age when celebrity families often monetize every milestone. It speaks to a couple intent on protecting their kids’privacy while navigating life in the relentless spotlight of major league baseball.

The timing of his absence is worth noting. Missing a game for paternity leave isn’t exactly controversial—it’s what you do—but it underscores a shift in how even elite athletes approach work-life balance. The Dodgers confirmed Ohtani was“away from the team on paternity”and expected to return sometime over the weekend, with games against Baltimore on both Saturday and Sunday. Whether he suits up depends on how much time he wants with his newborn, and that’s entirely his call.

For a player of Ohtani’s magnitude, the ability to step back without the team or fans turning it into a referendum on his commitment speaks volumes. Baseball moves on. Babies arrive. And sometimes the most important thing isn’t what happens on the field—it’s what’s happening at home. Congrats to the growing Ohtani family.