The Shohei Ohtani wife mystery has been solved.
Ohtani, who reached a 10-year, $700 million deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers in December, shared a photo with his new wife on his Instagram Story Thursday, according to Fox Sports.
“Shohei Ohtani and his wife, basketball player Mamiko Tanaka, are heading to the Seoul Series!” Fox on MLB posted on X, including a screen-grab of the photo.
Shohei Ohtani shared a rare photo with his new wife on his Instagram Story on March 14, 2024. Instagram/Shohei Ohtani Shohei Ohtani shared a rare photo with his new wife on his Instagram Story on March 14, 2024. Instagram/Shohei OhtaniExplore More
Ohtani, the reigning American League MVP, shared that he married “someone from my Native country Japan” in a post on Instagram in February, but did not name his wife.
“She is a Japanese woman, and I don’t really feel comfortable talking about when I got married, the exact date and stuff,” Ohtani, who is private about his personal life, said at the time through interpreter Ippei Mizuhara.
“But she’s a normal Japanese woman.”
Tanaka, 27, is a 5-foot-11 Japanese center, who played for the Fujitsu Red Wave from 2019 to 2023 after a collegiate career at Waseda University and Tokyo Seitoku University, according to reports.
Ohtani, 29, who was at the Dodgers’ spring training facility in Arizona at the time, reportedly shared that he has known his wife for three to four years — and decided to go public with the news to avoid future distractions.
The two-time unanimous MVP said the relationship had “absolutely nothing to do” with his decision to sign with the Dodgers, and that his wife was supportive of his decision, the LA Times reported.
Ohtani played the first six seasons of his MLB career with the crosstown Angels.
Ohtani previously shared that he met his wife during a training session, according to Essentially Sports.
Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani against the Seattle Mariners during a spring training game at Camelback Ranch-Glendale. USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani against the Seattle Mariners during a spring training game at Camelback Ranch-Glendale. USA TODAY Sports via Reuters ConThe Dodgers’ trip to South Korea will feature two exhibition games in the Seoul Series before they begin the regular season against the San Diego Padres on March 20.
Ohtani, who will turn 30 on July 5, signed the biggest deal in sports history in December, which will keep him with Los Angeles through 2033, when he is 39.
He won’t be available to pitch in 2024 as he recovers from surgery to repair his right UCL in October 2023.
