GLENDALE, Ariz. — Shohei Ohtani shocked the Los Angeles Dodgers—and people around the globe—with his wedding announcement on Thursday, prompting manager Dave Roberts to joke that any gift from the team would be deferred, much like his contract money.
“I’m really happy for him and his wife,” Roberts said with a smile. “We were caught off guard and didn’t have much time to think about a gift. I’m sure it’s on its way.”
Ohtani, the two-way Japanese sensation, announced on Instagram early Thursday that he had gotten married. Many details of the relationship remain unknown.
“She is a Japanese woman,” Ohtani stated through an interpreter. “I’m not comfortable discussing the exact timing of the marriage, but she’s a typical Japanese woman.”
During a brief interview on Thursday, Ohtani shared a few more details about the relationship, mentioning that he had known his wife for three or four years.
The 29-year-old Ohtani is a major celebrity in Japan. His personal life has always been a topic of interest, but he has kept it private. His focus has always been solely on baseball, free of scandals or tabloid stories.
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“I thought it was the right time before the season,” Ohtani explained. “I didn’t want any distractions once the season began. I would have preferred to announce it sooner, but there were some paperwork issues that delayed the process.”
Ohtani moved from the Los Angeles Angels to the Dodgers in December on a record $700 million, 10-year contract that includes payments from 2034-43.
Ohtani stated that his marriage did not impact his free agency decision.
“She understands my profession well, and she’s supportive of wherever I choose to play. Ultimately, the decision was mine,” Ohtani said.
In his Instagram post, Ohtani included a photo of his dog “Dekopin,” also known as “Decoy.”
He wrote: “We hope the two of us, along with our pet, will work together.”
The news broke during the night in North America and in the late afternoon in Japan, becoming the leading news story immediately.
Japanese media frequently reports on Ohtani’s training in the U.S., and he has become a source of pride in Japan due to his success in North America. The Dodgers are seen as Japan’s team.
Ohtani is training with the Dodgers as they prepare for a two-game series against the San Diego Padres in Seoul, South Korea, on March 20-21.
Ohtani underwent elbow surgery last September and will focus solely on hitting this season, with a possibility of playing in the field.
In his spring training debut, he hit a two-run home run against the Chicago White Sox.
Ohtani has hit 171 home runs, with 44 last season, and holds a .274 career batting average, along with a 38-19 pitching record in five seasons. He missed the 2019 season due to surgery and has a career ERA of 3.01.
He was named the AL Rookie of the Year in 2018 and the AL MVP in 2021 and 2023, often compared to Babe Ruth for his two-way abilities.
—Wade reported from Tokyo.