Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani has dropped a shock hint about his future in baseball, questioning if his newborn baby will ever see him play the sport.
The notoriously private Ohtani welcomed his second child to the world less than a week ago with his wife Mamiko Tanaka and has since confirmed they had a boy.
But speaking to reporters after Wednesday night’s 4-3 win over the Minnesota Twins, where Ohtani was the starting pitcher, he seemed to drop some cryptic comments about what the coming years will hold.
Asked if his son will be inspired to play baseball by seeing his father play, Ohtani was quoted as saying by the California Post: ‘I wonder. I don’t know how long I can play.
‘For now, I want to do my best until this contract (with the Dodgers) expires. I think children should decide their own futures. I just want to do my best at what I do.’
Ohtani signed a huge 10-year, $700million deal with the Dodgers until 2033, so his son would be seven years old by the time that contract comes to an end.
Shohei Ohtani made a surprising comment about his future in baseball on Wednesday night
The Dodgers star and his wife, Mamiko Tanaka, just had their second baby together
The Japan hero has led the Dodgers to two straight World Series titles in that time and they are favorites to win a third in 2026. He has, however, also had two Tommy John surgeries on his right elbow and a procedure on his left shoulder during his time in the game.
And despite helping the team to victory over the Twins on Wednesday, Ohtani was understandably thinking of home.
He described his newborn son as ‘cute’ but added: ‘I had to come on a road trip right away, so I think I’m more worried than anything. I’d like for us to happily spend time together.’
The 31-year-old missed only one game for the Dodgers, last Friday, before returning to the lineup the next day for the homestand against the Baltimore Orioles.
The Dodgers have a day off on Thursday before they hit the road again, this time for three games two hours south of LA against the San Diego Padres.
Ohtani’s wife Tanaka was a former basketball player. He announced in February 2024 that they had got married but did not reveal when they had tied the knot, or even Tanaka’s identity for a short while.
‘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 said in a statement.
In May 2024, they made their first public appearance at a Dodgers charity event.
