Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter and MLB National League MVP Shohei Ohtani announced over the weekend that he and his wife, Mamiko Tanaka, are expecting a baby.
Ohtani posted a picture on Instagram of his dog, Decoy, lying next to a baby outfit and an ultrasound picture to announce the news, though there is no indication of whether the couple is expecting a boy or girl.
“Can’t wait for the little rookie to join our family soon!” states the post’s caption.
The three-time MVP shocked many in the baseball world in February when he announced that he had married Tanaka, with many unaware that he was engaged to her before the marriage announcement.
“Not only have I began a new chapter in my career with the Dodgers but I also have began a new life with someone from my Native country of Japan who is very special to me and I wanted everyone to know I am now married,” wrote Ohtani in a marriage announcement post.
The news that Tanaka is pregnant comes following an incredible year for Ohtani on the baseball field. In his first playoff appearance of his career, he led the Dodgers to a victory in the World Series over the New York Yankees.
Ohtani was also named the MVP of the National League after an incredible season in Los Angeles, becoming the first player to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in a single season.
The seven-year veteran also finished third in the MLB with a batting average of .310 while also hitting for the third-most RBIs in the league at 130.
These performances resulted in Ohtani being named the Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year, joining Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark as the two athletes to win, as previously reported by The Dallas Express.
While many would expect Ohtani to slow down in the coming season, he will likely be more impactful on the baseball field as he retakes the mound as a pitcher for the Dodgers.
After spending the first few seasons of his career as one of the best pitchers in the league for the Los Angeles Angels, an injury to Ohtani’s throwing elbow kept him sidelined for the entire 2024 season.
However, the expectation is that Ohtani will be slotted in one of the Dodgers’ starting pitchers to begin the 2025 season, as reported by Sports Illustrated.