Shohei Ohtani Reveals He and Mamiko Tanaka Are Expecting a Baby: ‘Can’t Wait for the Little Rookie to Join Our Family’

Shohei Ohtani and wife Mamiko Tanaka in May 2024; a photo shared on Dec. 28, 2024, announcing they’re expecting a baby.Photo:

Getty;Shohei Ohtani/Instagram

 Shohei Ohtani announcing him and his wife are expecting

Shohei Ohtani is going to be a dad!

The Los Angeles Dodgers player, 30, revealed on Instagram that his family roster with wife Mamiko Tanaka, 28, will soon be expanding — with a “little rookie” joining their lineup sometime in 2025.

On Saturday, Dec. 28, he shared that he and Tanaka are expecting their first child alongside a photo of a pink onesie, white shoes and a photo of a sonogram, which he covered with a baby head emoji. Their dog Dekopin (a.k.a. “Decoy”) was also featured in the picture with the baby items.

“Can’t wait for the little rookie to join our family soon,” he captioned the post, which attracted a million likes and 18,000 comments within hours.

The post comes after Ohtani announced that he tied the knot in February on Instagram, though he did not name his wife at the time. He eventually shared a photo with the former pro Japanese basketball player two weeks after the announcement, confirming the rumors that she was his wife.

“Not only have I began a new chapter in my career with the Dodgers but I also have began a new life with someone from my Native country of Japan who is very special to me and I wanted everyone to know I am now married,” Ohtani wrote.

In Japanese, he added, per CNN, “We are still young and [there are] many things we don’t know yet, but we hope you will warmly watch over us,” he continued. “We hope that the two of us (and one dog) will work together to support each other and move forward alongside with our fans.”

Shohei Ohtani and wife Mamiko Ohtani in May 2024.Jerritt Clark/WireImage

Just two weeks after he announced they had married, Ohtani posed with Tanaka and their translators as they boarded a plane to Seoul, South Korea, where the Dodgers were set to play.

The team posted a photo of the two of them on X (formerly Twitter) alongside another photo of Ohtani’s teammate Mookie Betts and his wife, Brianna Hammonds.

Shohei Ohtani and Mamiko Ohtani attend The Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation's 2024 Blue Diamond Gala at Dodger Stadium on May 02, 2024 in Los Angeles, California.

“Wheels up to Seoul,” they captioned the post, labeling Tanaka as Ohtani’s wife in the alt text of the photo.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Tanaka has also been spotted in the stands of several of Ohtani’s Dodgers games. In one video shared by Dodgers Nation on X in September, she could be seen celebrating with Ohtani and their dog on the field after the team won the NL West.

They have occasionally attended events together outside of the baseball diamond and even made a rare appearance together at the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation Blue Diamond Gala in May 2024, where they posed for a photo with Ed Sheeran.

Related Posts

REPORT: Twins Expected to Land a $13.5 Million All-Star and Former Cy Young Contender. If This Deal Happens, Minnesota’s New 1-2-3 Punch With Joe Ryan and Pablo López Could Terrify the Entire AL Central

The Mіnneѕotа Twіnѕ hаve mаde іt cleаr thаt they’re begіnnіng to ѕtаrt а rebuіld, but they ѕtіll hаve а few comрetіtіve ріeceѕ іn Joe Ryаn, Byron Buxton, аnd раblo…

🔥 Dylan Cease Just Signed a Major Contract Braves Fans Should Be Excited About. Atlanta Braves Didn’t Pull the Trigger—And Fans Are Relieved

Wіld Cаrd ѕerіeѕ – ѕаn Dіego раdreѕ v Chіcаgo Cubѕ – Gаme Two | Mіchаel Reаveѕ/Gettyіmаgeѕ   One of the bіggeѕt free аgentѕ on the mаrket ѕіgned…

REPORT: Orioles Could Finally Erase Years of Lackluster Offseasons With One Bold Move. And If Baltimore Pulls It Off, the Entire AL East Won’t Know What Hit Them

Orіoleѕ could mаke uр for recent lаckluѕter offѕeаѕonѕ by doіng thіѕ The Bаltіmore Orіoleѕ’ dіѕаррoіntіng 2025 ѕeаѕon begаn wіth а lаckluѕter 2024-25 offѕeаѕon. Thoѕe quіet offѕeаѕonѕ mаy…

“A shocking offseason twist” — Red Sox turmoil erupted as Jason Varitek is reportedly considering leaving Boston to pursue a managerial role with another MLB team.

BREAKING NEWS: Jason Varitek Reportedly Weighing Departure from Red Sox to Pursue Managerial Opportunity Elsewhere — Could Boston’s Dugout Lose Its Soul Before Spring Training?   The Boston…

BREAKING: MLB Legend Jіm Rіce Fіghtѕ Courаgeouѕly Agаіnѕt Cаncer – A Chаmріon’ѕ Bаttle Off the Fіeld Thаt Inѕріreѕ Mіllіonѕ

Boѕton, – іn а heаrtbreаkіng revelаtіon, Jіm Rіce, the іconіc ѕlugger known for hіѕ legendаry cаreer wіth the Boѕton Red ѕox, іѕ currently bаttlіng cаncer. Known for hіѕ іncredіble…

✅ SOUTH SIDE SHOCKER: What If White Sox Bet Big on Former Cubs Star and Turn the Tables Overnight? With White Sox rebuilding pace slowed and fans hungry for a spark, signing a veteran ex‑Cubs slugger could be the surprise jolt they desperately need. The potential upside is huge — but the gamble carries risk. Are White Sox ready to press “GO” on a high‑stakes comeback play? 👇

The White Sox could add serious power to their lineup by taking a low-risk chance on a former Cubs slugger who still has untapped potential at just 26.