Shohei Ohtani is a renowned Japanese professional pitcher and designated hitter nicknamed as "Shotime" and "The Unicorn". As of March 2025, he is a part of the Los Angeles Dodgers in Major League Baseball (MLB). He formerly played for the Hokkaido Nippon Ham-Fighters, guiding the Japanese team to glory in the 2016 Japan Series, in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) from 2013 until 2017.
The four-time MLB All-Star signed with Los Angeles Angels in 2018, winning the American League Rookie of the Year Award in the same year. He joined the Dodgers in 2024 after becoming a free agent in 2023. He has won the National League (NL) Hank Aaron award twice and the Silver Slugger award thrice among other notable accomplishments so far in his career. Ohtani has also helped Japan win the World Baseball Classic in 2023.
Who are Shohei Ohtani's Parents?
Toru Ohtani and Kayoko Ohtani are the parents of Shohei Ohtani. The couple gave birth to the Los Angeles Dodgers star on July 5, 1994 in Oshu, Japan, where the pair still live as of 2025. Both his parents were athletes, as per People magazine.
Who is Shohei Ohtani's Mother?
As mentioned above, Kayoko Ohtani is the mother of Shohei Ohtani. She excelled in badminton during her youth and played at an amateur level. She would take her son to the badminton courts when he was little, as per People.
In an interview with MLB (via People) in 2017, Shohei opened up on his experience of playing badminton with his mother. He said:
"I can't beat her in badminton to this day. She's tall and she's been playing badminton for a long time."
Who is Shohei Ohtani's Father?
Toru Ohtani is the father of Shohei Ohtani. He used to play as an outfielder for a corporate-sponsored baseball team, as per Mainichi (via People). However, he stopped playing the sport after a shoulder injury at 25 and went to work full-time at a local automobile factory, as per People.
Speaking to Nippon (via People), Shohei revealed that his father helped shape his career as a baseball coach in his childhood. He said:
"Up until I reached high school, we probably spent more time together on the field than anywhere else. There was no special treatment. In practice and games, I didn't think of him as my dad. He was first and foremost my coach."
According to People, Toru Ohtani used to note down advice for his son in a journal. He revealed to Nippon that his aim was to make his son understand his choices on the field better. He also urged the Dodgers star to be loud and energetic, give his all in practice sessions, and never stop running on the field.
Read more about: Shohei Ohtani Wife
What Nationality are Shohei Ohtani's Parents?
Shohei Ohtani was born to Toru Ohtani and Kayoko Ohtani, both of whom are Japanese nationals residing in Oshu, Japan. As per reports, Shohei grew up with two siblings, an older sister named Yuka and an older brother named Ryuta. Like Shohei, Ryuta is also involved in amateur baseball at the industrial league level in Japan.
FAQs on Shohei Ohtani
A. Shohei Ohtani's wife, Mamiko Tanaka, is a former professional basketball player in Japan.
A. Shohei Ohtani is the first MLB player to record 50 home runs in a season.
A. Shohei Ohtani is sponsored by Japanese brands Seiko Watch, Kosé, DIP, and Nishikawa, and American companies such as Fanatics, Salesforce, and New Balance.
A. Shohei Ohtani wears the jersey number 17 for the Los Angeles Dodgers in MLB.
