UPDATED Saturday, April 19: Shohei Ohtani is now a dad.
The Los Angeles Dodgers superstar and his wife Mamiko Tanaka have welcomed their first baby, a girl.
"Welcome to the Ohtani Family!" the 30-year-old baseball player wrote on his Instagram April 19, alongside a pic of himself and Mamiko touching their daughter's tiny feet. "I am so grateful to my loving wife who gave birth to our healthy beautiful daughter."
Shohei and Mamiko, 28, have not revealed their baby's name. The MLB player did, however, including a personal message for her.
"To my daughter," he wrote, "thank you for making us very nervous yet super anxious parents."
He added, "I would also like to thank the Dodgers organization, my teammates, and the fans for their constant support and kind words of encouragement. I would also like to express my sincere gratitude to all the medical professionals and everyone who dedicated their support to us, up until this wonderful day."
______________________
Shohei Ohtani just scored a home run with this announcement.
The Dodgers pitcher shared Dec. 27 that he is set to become a dad.
Alongside a pic of his dog Decoy lying beside a pale pink, ruffled baby onesie, a pair of baby sneakers and a sonogram covered by a baby face emoji, the baseball star wrote on Instagram, "Can’t wait for the little rookie to join our family soon!"
The 30-year-old, who is married to former pro basketball player Mamiko Tanaka, offered no further details.
Ohtani, who many baseball fans consider to be among the most skilled MLB players of all time, has largely kept his personal life private. The star designated hitter had announced his marriage, without naming Tanaka or previously noting he even was in a relationship, in February.
"Not only have I begun a new chapter in my career with the Dodgers but I also have begun a new life with someone from my native country of Japan who is very special to me," he wrote on Instagram at the time, "and I wanted everyone to know I am now married. I am excited for what is to come and thank you for your support."
In the post itself, alongside a pic of Decoy, he also shared insight into his and Tanaka's plans for the future together.
"We are still young and [there are] many things we don't know yet, but we hope you will warmly watch over us," Ohtani wrote in Japanese in the post translated by CNN, adding, "We hope that the two of us (and one dog) will work together to support each other and move forward alongside with our fans."
The baseball player later addressed his decision to make the announcement about his marriage the way he did.
"I felt like it was good timing because it was before the season,” he said at a press conference in February, Sports Illustrated reported. "I didn’t want any distractions when the season started. And I would have liked to announce it earlier, but there was some paperwork issues that lagged the whole process. So that was the whole deal."
He noted that his wife is a "normal Japanese woman" who he has known for three or four years and added that he proposed to her in 2023, the outlet said.
In March, a photo of Ohtani and his wife was posted on the Dodgers' social media, confirming her identity.
Tanaka, who played for the Fujitsu Red Wave team in the Women's Japan Basketball League, has since been spotted at a few of her husband's games. She also joined him at the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation's 2024 Blue Diamond Gala in May and the two were photographed together at a Los Angeles Lakers game earlier this month.
Ohtani had also reportedly penned a now-viral list about his hopes and dreams, including about starting a family, when he was in high school.
According to Sports Illustrated, which cited a post on Reddit that referenced a Japanese TV show, the athlete had written he wanted to get married and win the World Series by age 26 and have his first child, a son, by the time he was 28.
In October, in what marked his first MLB postseason appearance, the 2024 National League MVP helped the Dodgers win the 2024 World Series.
This story was originally published Dec. 28, 2024 at 5:15 p.m. PT.
Read on for more celebrity babies born this year...
Nell Hudson & Max King
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Calvin Harris & Vick Hope
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The influencer and the rapper welcomed their first baby together, a girl named Eloísa, on July 26.
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The YouTuber announced that she and her husband welcomed their third and "final" baby on July 12.
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The NCIS star and his fiancée welcomed their second child, a baby boy, who joined his big sister Nakano Oceana.
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The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star gave birth to her third child, a baby girl named Penelope, after going into labor at her nail appointment in July.
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Madison LeCroy & Brett Randle
The Southern Charm star and her husband welcomed their first child together, a daughter named Teddi—in honor of Madison’s father Ted LeCroy—in June.
The exciting news came after the Madison—who shares son Hudson with ex John Hughes—announced her pregnancy in a smiling Feb. 6 Instagram photo.
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Triston Harper & Paris Reed
At 17 years old, the American Idol alum became a dad in June when he and his wife welcomed daughter Brenley Lichelle Harper.
Gael Cameron & Nathan Gallagher
The Below Deck Mediterranean stars welcomed their first child together, proudly announcing their baby boy’s arrival in a June 24 Instagram post simply captioned, “Welcome to the world, my love.”
The couple shared they were expecting in April. “The moments our hearts grew even bigger…Our little boy,” Gael captioned the reveal. “We can’t wait to share our world, our laughter, and all of life’s wild adventures with you. Our greatest journey yet is just beginning.”
Coi Leray & Trippie Redd
The “Twinnem” rapper welcomed her first child, a baby girl, with ex Trippie Redd. Coi shared the news with a glimpse of her daughter on her Instagram story June 16.
Kate Upton & Justin Verlander
The Sports Illlustrated Swimsuit model and the MLB star welcomed baby No. 2—a boy named Bellamy Brooks Verlander—in June.
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Nia Sanchez & Danny Booko
The Valley stars welcomed their fourth baby a daughter named Adelaide, on June 5. The pair announced their daughter’s birth with an Instagram carousel of pictures and videos of their newest addition.
“Sweet little memories from Adelaide’s first moments of life,” Nia captioned her Instagram post. “We are absolutely in love!”
MacKenzie McKee & Khesanio Hall
The Teen Mom star welcomed twin girls with her fiancé on June 2, one year after their engagement.
Lauren Alaina & Cam Arnold
The American Idol alum shared she and husband welcomed their first baby, a girl named Beni, on June 11.
Kristen Doute & Luke Broderick
The Vanderpump Rules star expressed feeling “lucky” after welcoming baby Kaia Lily with her fiancé in June.
Cassie Ventura & Alex Fine
The “Long Way 2 Go” singer gave birth to a baby boy on May 27, her third baby with husband Alex Fine.
The news of the couple’s newest arrival came three months after they announced her pregnancy on Instagram on February 19. Cassie posted a carousel of family photos with her and Alex’s daughters Frankie and Sunny alongside the caption “#3.”
Sam Hunt & Hannah Lee Fowler
The “Body Like A Back Road” singer and his wife, Hannah Lee Fowler, welcomed their third baby, a son named Wayman Allen Hunt on May 21.
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Jesy Nelson & Zion Foster
The Little Mix alum and her boyfriend Zion Foster welcomed identical twin girls, Ocean Jade and Story Monroe in May.
“So…Our beautiful baby girls decided to come at 31 weeks plus 5 days,” Jesy captioned an Instagram post of her and Zion with their baby girls. “It all happened so quickly, but we are so blessed that they are here with us, healthy and fighting strong! We’ve never felt more in love.”
Amber Heard
The Aquaman actress announced on Instagram May 11, Mother's Day 2025, that she has welcomed twins, daughter Agnes and son Ocean, who join big sister Oonagh.
Katie Kimmel & Will Logsdon
Jimmy Kimmel announced during the May 20 episode of his late night show that his daughter Katie Kimmel and her husband Will Logsdon welcomed a baby girl, Patti Joan.
Jason Wahler & Ashley Wahler
The Hills alum and his wife welcomed their third child together on May 8, adding a baby boy named August to their familiy.
Taylor Rue & Cameron Shelton
The Love Is Blind alum welcomed her second child with boyfriend Cameron Shelton, a baby boy named Cason Wayne Shelton in April.
“We couldn’t be more in love,” Taylor captioned an Instagram carousel featuring the couple’s new addition. “1/2 of me and 1/2 of the person I love most.”
Colby Kissinger & Madlyn Ballatori
The Ultimatum couple welcomed their third baby, named Royce Canon Kissinger, in April.
Shohei Ohtani & Mamiko Ohtani
The Los Angeles Dodgers star player announced April 19 that his wife had given birth to their first baby, a girl.
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The Saturday Night Live alum and her fiancé—whose full name has not been publicly revealed—welcomed their baby girl in early April.
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Rachel Griffin Accurso & Aron Accurso
The YouTuber, who goes by Ms. Rachel, announced on April 8 she and her husband welcomed their second baby, a girl named Susannah, via surrogate.
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