Ohtani Missing from Dodgers' Lineup Due to Paternity Leave

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Shohei Ohtani was absent from the Los Angeles Dodgers' lineup on Friday evening as he is “away from the team on paternity.” The club confirmed via a post on X that the two-way star is anticipated to rejoin the squad this weekend, which means he will not be placed on Major League Baseball's paternity list.

The Dodgers announced their lineup for the series opener against the Baltimore Orioles just under an hour before the game, with Ryan Ward stepping in as the designated hitter and batting seventh.

Three hours prior to the game, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts addressed the media about the late lineup update, stating he was coordinating “some things with some position players” but did not mention Ohtani's situation. When asked about Ohtani's previously reported sore left knee, Roberts noted he had not yet communicated with him that day, adding, “Just assuming that after the off day he's in a good spot.”

Roberts typically acknowledges when a player is expecting a child, and the team usually announces players placed on paternity leave. Ohtani, who will celebrate his 32nd birthday on July 5, and his wife, Mamiko Tanaka, welcomed their first child in April 2025. The couple announced their pregnancy on social media in December 2024, although Ohtani has kept details about their daughter private, rarely sharing her name or image in family photos.

This absence comes as Ohtani continues to make a significant impact as a key player for the Dodgers this season.