Baseball

Shohei Ohtani Announces First Child ー Fans are All About It

Shohei Ohtani announced that he and his wife Mamiko Tanaka are expecting their first child in 2025. And fans flooded social media with excitement!

by
Arielle Busetto
January 11, 2025

On December 29, Shohei Ohtani delighted fans worldwide by announcing that he and his wife are expecting their first child in 2025.

Ohtani shared the news on Instagram, captioning it, "Can't wait for the little rookie to join our family soon!" The post included an adorable picture of his dog, Dekopin, beside a baby outfit and what appeared to be a sonogram edited with a baby emoji.

Even Major League Baseball's official X page shared Ohtani's picture from Instagram, amassing over 3.5 million views.

Well Wishers All Around

The news quickly took social media by storm, garnering reactions from fans and celebrities alike.

Actress Naomi Watanabe expressed her congratulations. Posts on X speculated about potential names for the child. Some people suggested the name Ippei, with the Japanese characters 一平 (Ichi and Hei, meaning "first" and the latter part of Ohtani's first name).

One fan, Instagram user tanoltuchi, commented in Japanese: "First and foremost, quietly look after [them]! It looks like Dekopin will become an elder brother soon."

Another netizen, calling herself katsumisayuri_sayuri, effused: "Thank you so much for such an exciting announcement! [...] I am praying from the bottom of my heart for the happiness of the Shohei family 🥰🍀🎉."

Comments in other languages also were aplenty, including in Spanish and Korean, expressing their well-wishes for the family.

Some Irony Too

While many shared heartfelt congratulations, others added a touch of humor to the occasion. One ironic comment in English read: "Too early to sign him?," presumably referring to the possibility of already offering a baseball contract to Ohtani's unborn child.

Funnily enough, the Mirror reported how fellow MLB star Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees had posted on social media only a couple of days before, revealing that he and his wife were expecting a baby. "Could this be a rivalry also in life, as well as on the field?," some netizens asked sardonically.

What a Year for Ohtani

The year 2024 was full of news for Ohtani. In February, he announced his marriage to Mamiko Tanaka.

Throughout the baseball season, he was also key to his team's success. Fans won't forget how Ohtani made history by becoming the first MLB player with 50 homers and 50 steals in the same season.

Then, with his teammates, the Los Angeles Dodgers slugger won the World Series against the New York Yankees.

Author: Arielle Busetto