Shohei Ohtani has revealed the identity of his wife after the $700million Los Angeles Dodgers star announced he was married to a mystery woman last month.
Ohtani, who recently was handed the largest contract in sports history, posted a picture of his new partner on social media on Thursday.
He announced he’s married to Japanese basketball player Mamiko Tanaka.
Tanaka, 27, played for Waseeda University and Fujitsu Red Wave in the Women’s Japan Basketball League.
She is a 5ft 11ins forward or center and averaged 7.8 points and six rebounds per game.
Shohei Ohtani has revealed the identity of his wife after his shock marriage announcement
Ohtani announced he’s married to Japanese basketball player Mamiko Tanaka on Thursday
TMZ report the couple have known each other for three to four years, although it remains uncertain when they tied the knot.
The 29-year-old is Japan’s biggest celebrity and there has been a frenzy for details about his personal life, which he has always kept private. His focus and his image has always been 100 per cent-baseball focused and free of scandals and tabloid news.
Last month Ohtani posted on Instagram that he was starting not only ‘a new chapter in my career but I also began a new life with someone from my native country of Japan who is very special to me…’
Ohtani added that his wife was ‘a normal Japanese woman’ and insisted his marriage didn’t affect how he treated free agency.
‘She has a great understanding of my profession, and she’s willing to be wherever I wanted to play and ultimately it was my decision,’ Ohtani said.
Ohtani’s announcement even caught the Dodgers off-guard, as the team’s manager Dave Roberts revealed from spring training.
‘I’m very happy for him and his bride,’ Roberts said, via AP. ‘As far as wedding gifts, we got surprised and didn’t have much time to think about it. I’m sure it’s en route.’
In the Instagram post announcing his marriage, which racked up almost 1.5million likes in just one hour, the 29-year-old also said, ‘The two of us [and our dog] will support each other and we hope to move forward together with all of our fans.’
Ohtani is training with the Dodgers as they prepare to open in South Korea on March 20-21
Japanese television reports daily on his training in the United States and, because of his unprecedented success in North America, he has become the pride of Japan. The Dodgers have become Japan’s de facto team.
Ohtani moved from the Los Angeles Angels to the Dodgers in December on a record $700m, 10-year contract that calls for $680m to be paid from 2034-43.
Ohtani is training with the Dodgers as they prepare to open 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 in the field.
In his spring training debut, he hit 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 in 2021, often compared to Babe Ruth for his skill as a two-way player.
More to follow.