
Shohei Ohtani isn’t with the Los Angeles Dodgers as they continue their road series against the Texas Rangers this weekend because his wife, Mamiko, just gave birth to their first child.
On Saturday afternoon, Ohtani announced on social media that he and Mamiko had given birth to a daughter.
“I am so grateful to my loving wife who gave birth to our healthy beautiful daughter,” Ohtani wrote. “To my daughter, thank you for making us very nervous yet super anxious parents.”
The Dodgers will just have to manage without Ohtani while he celebrates the birth of his daughter. Ohtani can remain on the paternity list for three days, and if he is still away from the team, he’ll be placed on the restricted list.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts remarked he wasn’t certain when Ohtani would return after the birth, expressing, “I don’t know when he’s going to come back… they’re together in anticipation.”
Ohtani’s absence hasn’t slowed the Dodgers, as pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto delivered a stunning performance with seven scoreless innings leading to a 3-0 victory.