Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani missed Friday night’s game against the Baltimore Orioles as he’s on paternity leave.
He’s expecting his second child, and it’s initially unclear when he will be back in action.
The news was broken by Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic, who added that the team paternity list plans have not been disclosed.
“Dodgers aren’t making an official move with Shohei Ohtani yet. TBD how much time he will be away,” he wrote on social media.
When will Shohei Ohtani be back in action?
The Dodgers revealed on social media, though, that Ohtani’s absence should only be a day or two.
“Shohei Ohtani is away from the team on paternity. He is expected to be back at some point this weekend,” the team wrote.
That means he will be back to face the Baltimore Orioles at least once.
He’ll do so, though, only as a designated hitter, as his recent start against the Tampa Bay Rays means he won’t pitch this series.
The team is surely hopeful that Ohtani’s blistered finger and injured knee can recover a bit during this break.
What does Shohei Ohtani’s absence mean for the Dodgers?
The late scratch of Ohtani from the lineup could be the cause of the delay regarding tonight’s lineup, which was not released this afternoon as it normally is.
Once that lineup was disclosed, it was disclosed that Ohtani wasn’t simply replaced with a new designated hitter also at the leadoff spot.
Instead, the Dodgers seemed to be trying something different.
Friday night, Ryan Ward played designated hitter, though Kyle Tucker led off the lineup.
Shohei Ohtani’s family and children
Ohtani and his wife of two years, former professional basketball player Mamiko Tanaka, already have one child, born in April 2025.
Ohtani keeps his personal life private, so it’s unclear how much information we’ll get once Ohtani’s second child is born.
Congrats to Shohei Ohtani, Mamiko Tanaka and the whole family!
One Response
The Dodgers should have a nursery ball club by now.