Shohei Ohtani, the $700 million Dodgers star, recently shocked fans by revealing the identity of his wife after announcing his mysterious marriage to a Japanese woman last month. The unexpected twist left many in disbelief, as the secretive nature of his relationship had sparked wild speculations and curiosity among followers. With this revelation, Ohtani has caused quite a stir in the sports world, adding a new layer of intrigue to his already captivating persona.
The revelation came shortly after Ohtani announced his marriage last month. Fans were left in awe as the $700 million Dodgers star shared this personal milestone with the world.
Ohtani, who recently was handed the largest contract in sports history, posted a picture of his new partner on social media on Thursday.
He announced he’s married to Japanese basketball player Mamiko Tanaka.
Tanaka, 27, played for Waseeda University and Fujitsu Red Wave in the Women’s Japan Basketball League.
She is a 5ft 11ins forward or center and averaged 7.8 points and six rebounds per game.
TMZ report the couple have known each other for three to four years, although it remains uncertain when they tied the knot.
The 29-year-old is Japan’s biggest celebrity and there has been a frenzy for details about his personal life, which he has always kept private. His focus and his image has always been 100 per cent-baseball focused and free of scandals and tabloid news.
Last month Ohtani posted on Instagram that he was starting not only ‘a new chapter in my career but I also began a new life with someone from my native country of Japan who is very special to me…’
Ohtani added that his wife was ‘a normal Japanese woman’ and insisted his marriage didn’t affect how he treated free agency.
‘She has a great understanding of my profession, and she’s willing to be wherever I wanted to play and ultimately it was my decision,’ Ohtani said.
Ohtani’s announcement even caught the Dodgers off-guard, as the team’s manager Dave Roberts revealed from spring training.
‘I’m very happy for him and his bride,’ Roberts said, via AP. ‘As far as wedding gifts, we got surprised and didn’t have much time to think about it. I’m sure it’s en route.’
In the Instagram post announcing his marriage, which racked up almost 1.5million likes in just one hour, the 29-year-old also said, ‘The two of us [and our dog] will support each other and we hope to move forward together with all of our fans.’
What’s next for this power couple? Will they continue to hit it out of the park together or face some curveballs along the way? Keep your eyes peeled for more updates on Ohtani and Tanaka’s journey as they navigate fame, love, and everything in between.
Flip to the next for photos of Shohei Ohtani’s wife and her raining down threes like Steph.