Dodgers star Ohtani announces marriage

Shohei Ohtani dropped a major marriage bombshell Thursday as his first spring training as a member of the Dodgers.

In a post shared with his 7.4 million Instagram followers, the two-way superstar announced his marriage to a Japanese woman, whom he did not identify.

“To all my friends and fans throughout, I have an announcement to make: Not only have I began a new chapter in my career with the Dodgers but I also have began a new life with someone from my Native country of Japan who is very special to me and I wanted everyone to know I am now married,” the 29year-old Ohtani wrote.

“I am excited for what is come and thank you for your support.”

Ohtani, who has kept his personal life out of the spotlight despite being one of MLB’s biggest names, told reporters at the Dodgers’ spring training facility in Arizona that he had married a woman that he had known for about three to four years and went public to avoid future distractions, The Athletic reported.

While Ohtani didn’t say when he got married, the 29-year-old did reveal that the pair got engaged last year, and his now-wife lives in Japan but joined him in the United States for spring training, the Los Angeles Times reported.

The Dodgers star described her as a “normal Japanese woman” and not some type of celebrity.

It’s been a whirlwind few months for the twotime AL MVP, who signed a massive 10-year, $700 million contract with the Dodgers in December following six seasons with the Angels.

Although he won’t pitch in the upcoming season after undergoing elbow surgery in September, Ohtani impressed in a spring training game this week, hitting a home run against the White Sox in the Dodgers’ 9-6 win.