Ohtani on Paternity
Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani misses Friday game for 'paternity,' expected back this weekend
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Shohei Ohtani is away from the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday, June 20, 2026, as his wife prepares to give birth to their second child. Manager Dave Roberts confirmed the absence before the team's game against the Baltimore Orioles, saying Ohtani is "away on paternity" and is expected back "at some point this weekend," according to NBC Sports.
Ryan Ward took Ohtani's place at designated hitter for the series opener. The Dodgers said the absence is not health-related. Ohtani is carrying a .962 OPS and 15 home runs this season, according to MLB News, making his return a priority for a team chasing the best record in the National League.
Ohtani's Second Child Arrives in Los Angeles
Ohtani and his wife, former professional basketball player Mamiko Tanaka, welcomed their first daughter in April 2025. He missed just two games at that time before rejoining the team on Easter Sunday in Arlington, Texas, according to The Los Angeles Times. This second child appears to be arriving on a similar timeline, with Roberts hopeful Ohtani will return before the weekend series with Baltimore wraps up.
Ohtani announced the couple's second pregnancy earlier in 2026. He is famously private about his personal life — he stunned the sports world in February 2024 by revealing he had been secretly married to Tanaka, according to The Athletic.
MLB's Paternity List Gives Teams One to Three Days
Under the current MLB collective bargaining agreement, a player can be placed on the paternity list for a minimum of one day and a maximum of three days. During that window, teams can call up a 27th roster player without the usual 10-day injured list wait, according to InsideHook. The first player to ever use this rule was Texas Rangers pitcher Colby Lewis back in 2011.
If Ohtani returns by Sunday, the Dodgers may avoid making any formal roster move at all. If the birth or recovery runs longer, they would likely call up an infielder or outfielder from Triple-A Oklahoma City, according to NBC Sports.
Dodgers Face Baltimore Without Their Best Hitter
Ohtani's absence puts extra pressure on Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman to carry the offense. The Dodgers are in a tight race for the top record in the National League. Ohtani is batting .296 with 42 RBI across 257 at-bats this season, according to Sports Illustrated.
Roberts told reporters he was "working on some issues with position players" but made clear nothing is wrong physically with his star. Fantasy baseball analysts warned managers to bench Ohtani for the Friday and Saturday slates, though his next scheduled pitching start is not currently in jeopardy, according to Heavy Sports.
'Dad Strength' and What Fans Expect on His Return
In 2025, Ohtani returned from his first paternity absence and played in a road game the very next day. Dodgers fans have largely reacted with warmth and humor online, rallying behind a lighthearted belief in "Dad Strength" — the idea that new fathers come back to play better baseball, according to OC Register.
Ohtani is in the third year of his 10-year, $700 million contract, the largest in MLB history. He has won four MVP awards. For now, the Dodgers wait — and so does the rest of the baseball world — for him to come back to the dugout, according to Daily News.
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