![\"Shohei](\"https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/93b3c88\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/4219x3028+407+0\/resize\/1200x861!\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F81%2Fcd%2Fd9c1948c410caf9eb18fce503ab8%2F1386742-sp-ohtani-dodgers-introduction-wjs-024.jpg\")
<\/p>\nShohei Ohtani has gained a new honor: Father.<\/p>\n
Ohtani announced on Saturday in an Instagram post that his wife, Mamiko, gave birth to their first child. The couple welcomed a baby girl into their family.<\/p>\n
Ohtani went on the paternity list on Friday, then returned to the field by Sunday. He missed the first two games of the series against the Texas Rangers and participated in the final game.<\/p>\n
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Outfielder Eddie Rosario replaced Ohtani as the designated hitter while he was on the paternity list. The Dodgers designated Rosario for assingment the same day Ohtani returned.<\/p>\n
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that he believes fatherhood will make Ohtani an even better player.<\/p>\n
\u201cSome of the attributes you get from being a dad do translate to the baseball field,\u201d Roberts said. \u201cNot sweating the small stuff. Understanding what\u2019s most important. I have seen our players evolve in how they look at life and baseball.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cNow that he is a father,\u201d Roberts joked, \u201cwe might see some 120[-mph] exit velos off the bat.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Roberts highlighted Ohtani\u2019s work-life balance, as he quickly returned to playing with the Dodgers just a day after his daughter\u2019s birth.<\/p>\n \u201cFor him to just make sure the baby was healthy and to get back here, and to be a part of this, certainly shows his ability to balance life and work,\u201d Roberts said. \u201cIt\u2019s good to have him back. And most importantly, I\u2019m happy him and Mamiko have a healthy baby girl.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Ohtani joins several of his Dodgers teammates on the journey of fatherhood.<\/p>\n In April 2023, Mookie Betts, Max Muncy, Evan Phillips, Brusdar Graterol and former Dodgers Caleb Ferguson all had babies within about two weeks of each other. Then, in September of that year, Chris Taylor and former Dodgers Jason Heyward, Walker Buehler, and David Peralta had a joint baby shower.<\/p>\n As of now, Ohtani is the only current Dodgers player to have a baby this season. Roberts expects him to elevate his game because of it.<\/p>\n \u201cDad strength,\u201d Roberts said, \u201cis real.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Shohei Ohtani has gained a new honor: Father. Ohtani announced on Saturday in an Instagram post that his wife, Mamiko, gave birth to their first child. The… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":55550,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-55541","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mlb"],"yoast_head":"\n