Thekabarnews.com—Shohei Ohtani, the superstar for the Los Angeles Dodgers, has stepped away from the team for now as he and his wife prepare to have a second child. As a result, the club has not included him in Friday’s lineup against the Baltimore Orioles at Dodger Stadium.

The Dodgers confirmed Ohtani is away from the team for paternity reasons. They expect the two-way superstar back with the club later this weekend.

Ohtani and his wife, Mamiko Tanaka, a former pro basketball player in Japan, had their first child, a girl, in April 2025.

The couple has largely kept their family life out of the spotlight. However, news of their growing family quickly brought forth a flood of support from fans, teammates, and the larger baseball community.

Social media users congratulated the announcement. Many urged the Japanese star to spend time with his family on the special occasion.

A Barstool Sports media personality wrote, “Take all the time you need, brother,” in one of the most widely circulated messages. Dodgers change lineup for series opener vs. Baltimore without Ohtani

The team went with starter Roki Sasaki on the mound. The Orioles countered with rookie pitcher Trey Gibson in a matchup that garnered significant interest despite Ohtani’s absence.

Ohtani’s offensive production has been huge for the Dodgers this season. Still, the organization has always stressed the importance of supporting players for major family milestones.

Paternity leave has become a more accepted practice in Major League Baseball (MLB). This policy gives players the chance to be with their families without long-term consequences for their roster status.

Fans all over baseball received the news very positively. Many praised Ohtani for prioritizing his family over baseball, while others eagerly awaited his much-anticipated return later this weekend.

Since signing with the Dodgers, Ohtani has been one of baseball’s most impactful players. He has captured international interest for his outstanding work as an all-around hitter and pitcher.

His popularity extends well beyond the shores of the United States. Especially in Japan, millions of fans still follow his career closely.

The Dodgers are hopeful Ohtani will not miss more games, even though he sat out Friday’s match. He is expected back at the club with the latest addition to his family, according to team officials.

The focus now is not on baseball but one of the biggest moments in life. The Dodgers are in the midst of a series with Baltimore. They are waiting for Ohtani to return to the lineup later this weekend as fans celebrate the milestone with one of the game’s biggest stars.

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