Shohei Ohtani is a father again.
The Los Angeles Dodgers superstar posted the news on his Instagram account Saturday. Later, Ohtani was in the Los Angeles lineup for a 3-2 loss to the Baltimore Orioles. He accounted for the Dodgers’ first run with a solo homer in the ninth inning, his 16th of the season.
“We are again overjoyed to experience this wonderful day in our lives together. Thank you for being born safely,” read a message from Ohtani and his wife, Mamiko Tanaka. They also thanked supporters.
The post showed an image of a baby’s hands and feet in a blue blanket, possibly an indication that Ohtani has a son to go with his daughter, who was born in April 2025. Tucked in the baby’s arms was a tiny stuffed animal version of Ohtani’s beloved dog, Decoy, who also got his own photo at the bottom of the post.
The news that Ohtani was about to welcome a second child was a surprise Friday. He wasn’t in the Dodgers’ lineup, which was posted much later than usual, after the team said he was “away from the team on paternity.”
The absence of the two-way star did not last long, as Ohtani hit leadoff Saturday, finishing the night 1-for-4 as the club’s designated hitter. Ohtani remains in line to make his next start from the mound Wednesday on the road against the Minnesota Twins, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said.
“I talked to him briefly and congratulated him and Mamiko,” Roberts said after Saturday’s game. “He says his body feels great, so the day off was good for him. But I didn’t talk much about anything else.”
Ohtani has never publicly revealed his daughter’s name and has carefully avoided showing her face in the rare family photos he posts to his social media.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
