Shohei Ohtani announces surprise marriage 2 days after Dodgers spring training debut

Playing for the Los Angeles Dodgers won’t be the only big change for Shohei Ohtani this year.

The MLB superstar announced Thursday on Instagram that he is now married. Ohtani, who is famously private about his personal life, disclosed no details about his wedding or his new wife beyond that she is Japanese. The only picture included in his announcement post is his dog, Dekopin/Decoy.

The news arrived late at night in the United States and in the late afternoon in Japan.

Ohtani’s full caption:

To all my friends and fans throughout , I have an announcement to make :

Not only have I began a new chapter in my career with the Dodgers but I also have began a new life with someone from my Native country of Japan who is very special to me and I wanted everyone to know I am now married .

I am excited for what is to come and thank you for your support .

Ohtani is getting in the habit of dropping massive news via abrupt Instagram posts, as he also announced he was signing with the Dodgers through his account earlier this offseason. His deal was then reported to be worth a record $700 million, with $680 million deferred.

The marriage was reportedly news to even the Dodgers, per The Athletic’s Fabian Ardaya, with manager Dave Roberts not finding out until his wife told him Thursday morning.

Shohei Ohtani: Wife is ‘a normal Japanese woman’

Ohtani provided slightly more details on his wife while speaking with reporters in Arizona on Thursday. Per Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times, Ohtani described her as “a normal Japanese woman” (i.e. not a celebrity) whom he has known for three or four years.

He reportedly declined to say when they got married, but said the relationship had no bearing on his decision to sign with the Dodgers, which his wife supported. He also told Japanese media he got engaged last year and that his wife is with him at spring training.

Shoehi Ohtani has his first ring with the Dodgers. (Photo by Masterpress/Getty Images) (Masterpress via Getty Images)
The 29-year-old made the marriage announcement two days after his spring training debut with the Dodgers, which went well. In his third at-bat of the game, Ohtani crushed an opposite-field, two-run home run against the Chicago White Sox, showing off the power that makes him one of the most feared hitters in baseball.

The Dodgers are scheduled to open their season March 20 against the San Diego Padres in South Korea. Perhaps Ohtani’s wife will be in attendance.