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Dodgers Announce Major Personal News About Shohei Ohtani

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Robert Marvi | Last updated Apr 18, 2025 7:32 PM ET

After making MLB history by recording 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases last season, the first player to ever do so, Shohei Ohtani is off to a strong start this season.

He came into Friday with a .288 batting average, eight runs batted in and a National League-leading six home runs. While his Los Angeles Dodgers have fallen behind the San Diego Padres in the NL West standings, many expect them to repeat as World Series champions this fall.

But they will have to try to reclaim first place without him for a little while. Ohtani is reportedly going on paternity leave since his wife, Mamiko, is about to have the couple's first child.

Shohei Ohtani has gone on paternity leave as his wife, Mamiko, is expecting their first child in the next coming days, Dave Roberts announced. pic.twitter.com/vYq8XG9liF
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) April 18, 2025

Ohtani is a unicorn, as he has been one of the few pitchers who is also a threat at the plate. In fact, he has arguably been even more of a threat at the plate than he has been on the mound.

He has won three MVP awards in the past four seasons, but he wasn't able to pitch last season following a procedure in September 2023 that repaired a torn UCL in his right elbow.

Perhaps not having to pitch in 2024 helped him hit 54 homers and register 130 RBIs while posting an on-base percentage of 1.036, with all three stats leading the NL.

Ohtani has been inching closer to a return to pitching, and the Dodgers fully expect to have him back on the mound at some point this season. He has a career earned run average of 3.01 and a 38-19 record.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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