Shohei Ohtani has revealed several new details about his wife, including that they have known each other for three or four years, as the LA Dodgers two-way star breaks his silence on an overnight announcement that he had just gotten married.
Following the news that the 29-year-old Japanese pitcher and designated hitter married a mystery woman, who remains anonymous, over the winter, some reporters asked more about Ohtani’s personal life on Thursday, to which the three times All-Star responded.
“Shohei Ohtani said his wife is a ‘normal Japanese woman’ (i.e. not a celebrity) who he’s known for 3 or 4 years,” tweeted Jack Harris of The LA Times.
“She didn’t say when they married, but insisted that the relationship had no bearing on her FA decision and that she supported him signing with the Dodgers.”
Fabián Ardaya of The Athletic further reported that Ohtani said he “wanted to avoid distractions by announcing it during the season, and he did it now.”
Dodgers two-way star Shohei Ohtani revealed Thursday that he’s known his wife for “three or four years” following the news that he suddenly tied the knot a day earlier.
Ohtani signed with the Dodgers in the offseason, but also secretly got married during that time.
Earlier on Thursday, the Dodgers’ No. 17 said he was starting not only “a new chapter in my career with the Dodgers but also… starting a new life with someone from my home country of Japan, which is very special.” for me”. and I wanted everyone to know that I’m married now.”
“I’m excited for what’s to come and thank you for your support,” he added in an Instagram post that racked up nearly 1.5 million likes in just one hour.
Ohtani, who won his second American League MVP award in six seasons with the Los Angeles Angels last year, included a photo of his dog at the bottom of the post.
“The two of us (and our dog) will support each other and hope to move forward together with all our fans,” he also wrote in Japanese.
He added that he and his wife were “still immature in many ways, but we would appreciate your kind support.”
The 29-year-old Japanese pitcher and designated hitter will earn $700 million over 10 years in Los Angeles.
Ohtani, nicknamed ‘Sho-Time’, has achieved stratospheric fame in Japan and abroad.
Known for his skills as a pitcher and hitter, he helped Japan win last year’s World Baseball Classic. Ohtani left Los Angeles last year in free agency after failing to make the MLB playoffs.
After weeks of frantic speculation, he joined the Dodgers in December. His 10-year contract worth $700 million was the richest contract in the history of North American sports. He made his Dodgers preseason debut on Tuesday, hitting a home run in his new team’s victory over the Chicago White Sox.
In his Instagram post, Ohtani said he would hold a press conference on Friday and ask the media to refrain from approaching his wife or family members.
‘Who in the world is the lucky lady? “Congratulations,” businesswoman Junko Ito, 33, told AFP in Tokyo. ‘She has someone who supports him on the sidelines. I will encourage him even more.’
Ohtani and agent Nez Balelo attend an LA Rams game against the New Orleans Saints in December.
But amateur baseball player Akito Suzuki, 22, said he was “shocked and saddened” by the news.
‘Now that he’s married, I have no chance. I feel a little bitter. I wanted it to be mine,” he said, lamenting how Ohtani had kept his private life a secret from him until now.
Born in northern Japan, Ohtani was a high school baseball prodigy who initially wanted to skip the national league and go straight to the majors.
Instead, he signed with the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters in 2013 and spent five seasons there before joining the Angels.
Ohtani’s every move is front-page news in Japan, and his achievements are a source of national pride. Her marriage announcement was quickly spread by the Japanese media.