Shohei Ohtani, Baseball Superstar, Marries and Requests Privacy
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Shohei Ohtani’s marriage announcement on Thursday shocked the Los Angeles Dodgers and the globe. As a result, manager Dave Roberts stated that any gift the organization would offer the two-time MVP would be deferred, similar to the majority of the money in his deal.
With a smile on his face, Roberts expressed his happiness for the newlyweds. Because we were caught off guard, we didn’t have much time to plan out the wedding presents. I have faith it’s on its way.
Japanese two-way sensation Ohtani announced his marriage on Instagram early Thursday morning. There is still a lot of uncertainty around the relationship.
Ohtani, speaking via an interpreter, stated, “She is a Japanese woman.” I wish I could be more forthcoming about the specific date of my marriage, but she’s just your average Japanese lady.”
Ohtani mentioned that he and his new bride have known each other for three or four years during a brief interview on Thursday, but he didn’t reveal much more about their relationship beyond that.
The 29-year-old Ohtani is Japan’s biggest celebrity. There has been interest in his personal life, which he has always kept secret. His emphasis and his image have always been 100% baseball-focused and free of scandals and tabloid stories.
Read More: Shohei Ohtani Is What Baseball Needs
“I felt like it was good timing because it was before the season,” Ohtani said. “I didn’t really want any distractions once the season started. I would have liked to announce it earlier, but there were some bureaucratic complications that delayed the whole process.”
Ohtani transferred from the Los Angeles Angels to the Dodgers in December on a record $700 million, 10-year contract that calls for $680 million to be paid from 2034–43.
Ohtani said his marriage didn’t alter how he viewed free agency.
“She has a wonderful understanding of my career, and she’s willing to go anywhere I wanted to play, and ultimately it was my decision,” Ohtani said.
The post on Instagram included a photo of his dog, “Dekopin,” whom Ohtani also nicknamed “Decoy.”
He wrote: “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 late in the afternoon in Japan, where it was immediately the top news topic.
Japanese television reports daily on his training in the United States, and because of his remarkable success in North America, he has become the pride of Japan. The Dodgers have become Japan’s de facto team.
Ohtani is training with the Dodgers as they prepare to begin in Seoul, South Korea, on March 20–21 in a two-game series against the San Diego Padres. Ohtani underwent surgery on his right elbow last September and will not pitch this season. He will be used as a designated hitter, and there is a possibility he could play on the field.
In his spring training debut this week, he smashed a two-run home run against the Chicago White Sox. Ohtani has hit 171 home runs, including 44 last season, and has a.274 career batting average along with a 38-19 pitching record in five seasons. He missed the 2019 season due to elbow surgery and has a 3.01 career ERA.
He was the 2018 AL Rookie of the Year and the 2021 and ’23 AL MVP, often compared to Babe Ruth for his abilities as a two-way player.
