Shohei Ohtani Goes on Paternity Leave Ahead of Child’s Birth

ARLINGTON, Texas — Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani is taking a leave of absence as he prepares for the birth of his first child. Ohtani, the reigning National League MVP, was placed on the paternity list by manager Dave Roberts, confirming plans for the birth to take place this weekend.

Ohtani, 30, stayed in Los Angeles with his wife, Mamiko, and will be replaced on the roster during the Dodgers’ series against the Texas Rangers by veteran outfielder Eddie Rosario. Rosario was called up from Triple-A after starting the season with a .339 batting average across 14 games.

According to Roberts, Ohtani can remain on the paternity list for up to three days. If he is not activated earlier, he will miss the upcoming series against the Chicago Cubs next week at Wrigley Field. However, there is still a possibility that he could return to the team later this weekend.

To accommodate Rosario on the 40-man roster, the Dodgers transferred reliever Edgardo Henriquez to the 60-day injured list. The team has not officially announced these roster moves yet.

As of this season, Ohtani has maintained a strong performance with six home runs, eight RBIs, and five stolen bases, hitting .288 with a .380 on-base percentage. He achieved a remarkable feat last year by becoming the first player in baseball history to hit 54 home runs and steal 59 bases in a single season, earning him his third MVP award.

The Dodgers, currently facing the Rangers, will look to continue their momentum without their star slugger. Eddie Rosario brings potential power to the lineup, having previously shown flashes of success during his career. His stint with the Dodgers comes after a notable postseason performance in 2021, where he was named NLCS MVP.

As Ohtani celebrates this personal milestone, fans and teammates alike are left anticipating when he might rejoin the team on the field. Los Angeles will play against Texas at 8:05 p.m. ET on Friday.

This weekend also marks the return of Dodgers first base coach Chris Woodward to Globe Life Field, his first visit since being fired as manager of the Rangers a year before they won the World Series.