Shohei Ohtani and his wife arrived in South Korea alongside his Los Angeles Dodgers teammates on Friday, gearing up for their season-opening clashes against the San Diego Padres next week.
Ohtani, clad in a black training suit with his cap turned backward, led the way as the first Dodgers player to step off at the arrival gate of Incheon International Airport, located west of Seoul. Following a few steps behind was his wife, Mamiko Tanaka.
In a late February Instagram post, the 29-year-old Ohtani disclosed his marriage to “a normal Japanese woman” whom he had known for three to four years, although he didn’t specifically identify his wife at the time.
The Instagram post featured Ohtani posing with Tanaka in front of an airplane alongside his teammate Yoshinobu Yamamoto. The Dodgers further shared a snapshot of the Ohtani-Tanaka duo on the team’s social media account, juxtaposed with one featuring Mookie Betts and his wife.
The upcoming Dodgers-Padres series marks Ohtani’s debut with the Dodgers. In December, Ohtani, formerly with the Los Angeles Angels, inked a groundbreaking $700 million, 10-year deal to join the Dodgers.
Due to a right elbow surgery last September, Ohtani will not be pitching this season. However, he will serve as a designated hitter, with the potential to also play in the field.
Social media platforms in Japan and South Korea are buzzing with discussions about Ohtani and his wife. Admirers express admiration for the couple’s openness, with comments praising their compatibility and speculating about the athletic prowess of their future offspring.
Earlier on Friday, the Padres also touched down in South Korea. The two-game series scheduled at Seoul’s Gocheok Sky Dome on March 20-21 marks the inaugural Major League Baseball regular-season games in South Korea.
However, amidst the fanfare, airport police detained a South Korean man who allegedly threw an egg in the vicinity of Dodgers manager Dave Roberts at the airport. Investigations are ongoing to discern the motive behind his actions, with his family disclosing to authorities that the man, in his mid-20s, has a history of mental illness.
As enthusiastic fans, many donning Dodgers jerseys, cheered and chanted slogans, Ohtani briefly acknowledged the crowd with a wave, while Tanaka smiled. Both remained silent before boarding a limousine bus. Fans displayed placards expressing support for Ohtani, labeling him as the “GOATANI” (Greatest Of All Time) and hailing him as a “baseball genius.”
Before they departed for South Korea, Ohtani, the two-way Japanese sensation, officially introduced his wife by sharing a photo of themselves on his Instagram account. Speculations from Japanese media confirmed as Tanaka, a former professional basketball player, emerged as Ohtani’s spouse. Tanaka, 27, previously played for the Fujitsu Red Wave in the Women’s Japan Basketball League from 2019-23.
