Shohei Ohtani celebrates fatherhood with first home run since daughter’s birth

TOI Sports Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Apr 30, 2025, 13:00 IST

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Shohei Ohtani celebrated his return from paternity leave with a leadoff home run as the Los Angeles Dodgers crushed the Miami Marlins 15-2. Ohtani, who recently welcomed his first child with wife Mamiko Tanaka, expressed gratitude to his family, fans, and the Dodgers organization.

Shohei Ohtani celebrates fatherhood with first home run since daughter’s birth (Image Source: Getty)

Shohei Ohtani celebrated a big personal and professional moment with a home run on his first day since doing daddy care while the Los Angeles Dodgers pounded the Miami Marlins 15-2 on Tuesday. The two-way star’s leadoff blast sparked a hot-hitting offensive performance from the Dodgers, who won their fourth straight while scoring 39 runs in their past four games.

A heartfelt return to the field for Shohei Ohtani

Ohtani’s home run was his first since he rejoined the Dodgers after being reinstated from the MLB’s paternity list Tuesday, when he was out for the birth of his daughter and with his wife, Mamiko Tanaka. The pair welcomed their first child in April 2025, a baby girl, and shared the happy news with fans in a touching social media post. Ohtani thanked his wife, the Dodgers organization, fans, and doctors while saying he and Tanaka are “very nervous yet super anxious” first-time parents.

Back in the lineup, Ohtani didn’t need long to make a difference. Ohtani led off against Marlins' pitcher Sandy Alcantara with a leadoff home run (his second of the season and 14th of his career) on the game's first pitch. The homer was the early touchstone to an offensive explosion for the Dodgers, for whom Teoscar Hernández finished with four hits as well as four RBIs.

A symbolic moment in a stellar career

Ohtani’s two-way status, already an aspiration instead of an achievement, became less a curiosity than a suggestion, an indication of a new phase of his life and career. After signing a record-breaking 10-year, $700 million deal with the Dodgers following a departure from the Los Angeles Angels, Ohtani has been getting accustomed to his new team and role. Now locked in at the plate while he rehabs from an elbow surgery last September, he has been in the process of adjusting to new hitting mechanics.

Shohei Ohtani shows off the dad strength 💪

The home run also held sentimental value for Ohtani. After the game, he met with the fan who caught the ball, exchanging a signed ball, bat, and two hats to retrieve the keepsake. "Obviously, it's a very special ball," Ohtani said through interpreter Will Ireton. "A lot of feelings toward it. I'm very grateful that it's back."
Also Read: Shohei Ohtani pens an emotional message after welcoming baby girl with wife Mamiko

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TOI Sports Desk

The TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the essence of live sporting events and deliver compelling content to readers worldwide. From running live blogs for India and non-India cricket matches to global spectacles featuring Indian talents, like the Chess World Cup final featuring Praggnanandhaa and the Badminton World Championships semifinal featuring HS Prannoy, our live coverage extends to all mega sporting events. We extensively cover events like the Olympics, Asian Games, Cricket World Cups, FIFA World Cups, and more. The desk is also adept at writing comprehensive match reports and insightful post-match commentary, complemented by stats-based articles that provide an in-depth analysis of player performances and team dynamics. We track news wires for key stories, conduct exclusive player interviews in both text and video formats, and file content from print editions and reporters. We keep track of all viral stories, trending topics and produce our own copies on the subjects. We deliver accurate, engaging, and up-to-the-minute sports content, round the clock.

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