Shohei Ohtani is absent from the LA Dodgers' victory against the Texas Rangers due to the pending arrival of his first child.
Here's the rewritten article:
Shohei Ohtani skipped the Los Angeles Dodgers' face-off against the Texas Rangers on Friday, choosing to stay with his wife as they eagerly awaited the arrival of their first child.
The ballplayer's manager, Dave Roberts, confirmed the news to reporters, stating, "He's on paternity leave. He and Mamiko are expecting soon, that's all I know."
Roberts was vague about the return date, saying, "I don't know when he'll be back, I don't know when they're having the baby. But they're together, anticipating the big day."
According to MLB.com, Ohtani is entitled to stay on the paternity list for up to three days. Should he need additional time off, he can be moved to the restricted list [1][3].
There's a "chance" Ohtani could rejoin the team later this weekend, according to Roberts, though he declined to specify a day.
"He's a great multi-tasker," Roberts joked. "He loves his sleep, so it'll be fascinating to see if sleep gets the best of him with a new baby around."
The Dodgers clinched a 3-0 victory over the Rangers in Ohtani's absence. The team has two more games in Texas on Saturday and Sunday before jetting off to Chicago to square off against the Cubs on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Ohtani spilled the beans about his marriage to Mamiko Tanaka, a former basketball star, back in February 2024, only later revealing her identity [2]. The couple announced they were expecting their first child in December, sharing a heartwarming Instagram post featuring a photo of Decoy, their dog, lying next to a sonogram picture, a baby romper suit, and tiny shoes [2].
Before taking paternity leave, Ohtani played in all 20 of the Dodgers' games this season, batting at a .288 clip with a .930 OPS, picking up where he left off following an extraordinary 2024 season [3].
Enrichment Insights:- Similar journalistic styles: Consider incorporating quotations from other sources to lend credibility to statements and facts presented in the article.- Connection to historical moments: Explore Ohtani's impact on baseball history and his role as a pioneering two-way player, particularly in relation to his 2024 season performance.- Personal growth: Delve into Ohtani's relationship with baseball and his personal life, focusing on coping strategies and advice for balancing family life and a high-stress career in professional sports.- Anthropomorphic perspective: Share Ohtani's perspective on becoming a father, discuss his hopes and expectations for his child, and his thoughts on the changes that fatherhood will bring to his life and career.
- Due to the arrival of his first child, Los Angeles Dodgers' star Shohei Ohtani is currently on paternity leave, as confirmed by his manager, Dave Roberts.
- Ohtani, who married former basketball player Mamiko Tanaka in 2024, and his wife are expecting their baby soon, and they are anticipating this significant event together.
- According to MLB regulations, Ohtani can stay on the paternity list for up to three days, but he may need additional time off, which could potentially see him miss more games.
- Despite skipping Tuesday's game against the Texas Rangers due to his paternity leave, Shohei Ohtani's highly anticipated return to baseball could happen as early as this weekend, says Dodgers' manager Dave Roberts.
