Ohtani Takes Paternity Leave as Dodgers Star Awaits First Child
Shohei Ohtani is missing the Dodgers’ weekend series against the Rangers for the best possible reason — he’s about to become a father.
The Japanese superstar was absent from Friday’s lineup as he remains in Los Angeles with his wife, Mamiko Tanaka, who is expecting their first child. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts confirmed the news before the team’s series opener in Texas.
“I don’t know when they’re going to have the baby,” Roberts said. “But obviously, they are together in anticipation.”
Ohtani can stay on the paternity list for up to three days. If he uses the full allotment, he’d return for the upcoming series against the Cubs at Wrigley Field, though Roberts indicated Ohtani might rejoin the team during the Rangers series.
Eddie Rosario, a nine-year veteran who had been playing in Triple-A, was called up to fill Ohtani’s roster spot temporarily.
The timing interrupts what’s been another stellar offensive campaign for Ohtani. He’s crushed an NL-leading six home runs while helping power the Dodgers to second place in the NL West. While he hasn’t pitched yet this season, his bat hasn’t missed a beat.
| Games | AVG | HR | RBI | SB | OPS | OPS+ |
| 20 | .288 | 6 | 8 | 5 | .930 | 168 |
His six homers rank fourth in MLB, and his advanced metrics show he’s outperforming most of his peers in both batting and baserunning. That 168 OPS+ means he’s been 68% better than the average major leaguer at the plate.
Ohtani’s wife is a former professional basketball player who spent her entire career in Japan. The 5-foot-11 Tanaka, 27, played for Fujitsu Red Wave in the Women’s Japan Basketball League after starring at Waseda University in Tokyo. In her final season (2022-23), she averaged 7.8 points and 6.0 rebounds in 24 minutes per game before retiring from basketball.
The couple has kept their relationship relatively private, with Ohtani only revealing their marriage earlier this year.
With Ohtani temporarily away, the Dodgers will face the challenge of replacing their offensive centerpiece against the AL West-leading Rangers and their formidable rotation. But family comes first — even for baseball’s biggest superstar.
