Shohei Ohtani Set to Return to Dodgers Lineup After Birth of First Child

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Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani is set to return to the team one day after announcing that he and his wife, Mamiko, have recently welcomed their first child.
The Dodgers announced Sunday that they reinstated Ohtani from the paternity list and designated outfielder Eddie Rosario for assignment in a subsequent move. Ohtani is in the Dodgers' lineup Sunday as they take on the Texas Rangers, hitting leadoff as the team's designated hitter.
Today’s #Dodgers lineup at Rangers: pic.twitter.com/21Sgv2LPTC
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) April 20, 2025
He was placed on the paternity list by the Dodgers on Friday as he remained with his family and welcomed his new daughter.
"Welcome to the Ohtani family! I am so grateful to my loving wife who gave birth to our healthy beautiful daughter," Ohtani wrote on Instagram. "To my daughter, thank you for making us very nervous yet super anxious parents.
"I would also like to thank the Dodgers organization, my teammates, and the fans for their constant support and kind words of encouragement. I would also like to express my sincere gratitude to all the medical professionals and everyone who dedicated their support to us, up until this wonderful day."
Ohtani only missed L.A.'s first two games in Texas, joining the team for the series' final game Sunday before the Dodgers travel to Chicago for a two-game series with the Cubs, which begins Tuesday.
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Blake Silverman is a contributor to the Breaking and Trending News team at Sports Illustrated. Before joining SI in November 2024, he covered the WNBA, NBA, G League and college basketball for numerous sites, including Winsidr, SB Nation's Detroit Bad Boys and A10Talk. He graduated from Michigan State University before receiving a master's in sports journalism from St. Bonaventure University. Outside of work, he's probably binging the latest Netflix documentary, at a yoga studio or enjoying everything Detroit sports. A lifelong Michigander, he lives in suburban Detroit with his wife, young son and their personal petting zoo of two cats and a dog.
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