TOKYO — Baseball star Shohei Ohtani has surprised everyone by revealing that he is married.
Ohtani took to Instagram on Thursday to announce in Japanese: “The season is approaching but I would like to announce to everyone that I have gotten married.”
He referred to his new wife as a “Japanese woman” without revealing her identity. Ohtani mentioned that he would share more details in an interview, possibly at the Los Angeles Dodgers spring training facility.
The 29-year-old Ohtani is a major celebrity in Japan, and there has always been curiosity about his personal life, which he has kept very private. He has maintained a 100% baseball-focused image without any scandals or tabloid news.
Ohtani made a move from the Los Angeles Angels to the Dodgers in December with a record-breaking $700 million contract spanning 10 years.
“I have embarked on a new chapter in my career with the Dodgers, and at the same time, I have started a new life with a special person from my homeland of Japan,” he wrote.
He requested that the media refrain from conducting unauthorized interviews.
His Instagram post featured a picture of his dog “Dekopin,” also known as “Decoy.”
He expressed, “We hope the two of us – and one animal – will work together.”
The news broke in the middle of the night in North America and in the late afternoon in Japan, instantly becoming the top news item on local television.
The Japanese media cover his training in the United States daily, and due to his remarkable success in North America, he has become a source of pride for Japan, with the Dodgers being seen as Japan’s unofficial team.
Ohtani is currently in Arizona training for the upcoming Major League Baseball season, gearing up for the Dodgers’ opening games in Seoul, South Korea, against the San Diego Padres on March 20-21.
Following elbow surgery, Ohtani will not be pitching this season. Instead, he will serve as a designated hitter, and there is a possibility he may play in the field.
In his recent spring training debut, he hit a two-run home run against the Chicago White Sox.
Ohtani has hit 171 home runs, with 44 in the previous season, and holds a career batting average of .274. As a pitcher, he has a record of 38-19 in five seasons and missed the 2019 season due to elbow surgery, maintaining a career ERA of 3.01.
He was named the American League rookie of the year in 2018 and the American League MVP in both 2021 and 2023, often drawing comparisons to Babe Ruth for his exceptional two-way playing abilities.
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