[ad_1]
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, famously private in his personal life, did not reveal details about his wedding or his new wife beyond the fact that he is Japanese. The only image included in his announcement post is of his dog, Dekopin/Decoy.
The news came late at night in the United States and late in the afternoon in Japan.
Ohtani’s full title:
To all my friends and fans around the world, I have an announcement to make:
Not only did I start a new chapter in my career with the Dodgers, but I also started a new life with someone from my home country, Japan, who is very special to me and I wanted everyone to know that I am now married.
I’m excited for what’s to come and thank you for your support.
Ohtani is getting used to breaking massive news through abrupt Instagram posts as he also announced he would be signing with the Dodgers. through your account earlier this offseason. It was later reported that his deal was worth a record $700 million, with $680 million deferred.
The marriage reportedly made news even for the Dodgers, according to Fabián Ardaya of Athleticand manager Dave Roberts didn’t find out until his wife told him Thursday morning.
Shohei Ohtani: his wife is “a normal Japanese woman”
Ohtani provided a little more detail about his wife while speaking to reporters in Arizona on Thursday. By Jack Harris of the Los Angeles TimesOhtani 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 married, but said the relationship did not influence his decision to sign with the Dodgers, which his wife supported. He also told Japanese media that he got engaged last year and that his wife is with him at spring training.
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 hit a two-run opposite-field home run against the Chicago White Sox, displaying the power that makes him one of the most feared hitters in baseball.
The Dodgers are scheduled to open their season on March 20 against the San Diego Padres in South Korea. Maybe Ohtani’s wife will attend.