Shohei Ohtani paternity leave, explained: Dodgers star to miss weekend series due to birth of first child

Few things can stop Dodgers supernova Shohei Ohtani from producing on a big-league diamond. Family is one of them, it seems.

The Japanese standout has enjoyed another impressive campaign for Los Angeles, mashing an NL-high six home runs to power the Dodgers’ juggernaut of a lineup to second-place in the NL West. He was expected to continue his assault of big-league pitching over the weekend, with Los Angeles set to take on the AL West-leading Rangers and their wondrous rotation.

But on Friday, Ohtani was left out of the Dodgers’ lineup. He had a fairly solid excuse: his wife is expecting the birth of their first-born child.

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Here’s what you need to know.

Shohei Ohtani child

Ohtani and his wife, Mamiko Tanaka, are expecting the birth of their first child, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts confirmed on Friday. He’ll remain in Los Angeles as the Dodgers galavant in Texas for a three-game set against the Rangers.

“I don’t know when they’re going to have the baby,” Roberts said. “But obviously, they are together in anticipation.”

Outfielder Eddie Rosario will take his place on the big-league roster. The nine-year big-leaguer has spent the previous few weeks in Triple-A.

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Shohei Ohtani paternity leave

Ohtani can remain on the paternity list for up to three days. If he exhausts his leave, that would mean he’ll return to the lineup for Los Angeles’ next series — a clash against the Cubs at Wrigley Field. Roberts did indicate that Ohtani could rejoin the roster against the Rangers, however.

Shohei Ohtani wife

Ohtani is married to Mamiko Tanaka, a former professional basketball player who spent the whole of her playing career in Japan. The 27-year-old starred at Waseda University in Tokyo before joining the Fujitsu Red Wave in the Women’s Japan Basketball League.

Standing 5-11, Tanaka was a steady presence inside the painted area, posting averages of 7.8 points and 6.0 rebounds in 24.0 minutes in 2022-23, the final year of her basketball career.

Shohei Ohtani stats

While lagging behind his otherworldly 2024 production ever-so-slightly, Ohtani continues to mash at an impressive level. The two-way talent has yet to take the mound yet, but his six home runs is the joint fourth-best mark in baseball.

With batting and base-running metrics that outrank the vast majority of his contemporaries, it seems Ohtani is primed for another mammoth campaign in 2025.