Shohei Ohtani is a Japanese baseball superstar for the Los Angeles Dodgers and one of the greatest two-way players in MLB history, excelling as both a pitcher and hitter. Born July 5, 1994, he is 32 years old. He is married to former professional basketball player Mamiko Tanaka, with whom he has a daughter born in 2025. His net worth is estimated at around $250 million, and he signed the largest contract in baseball history — 10 years, $700 million — with the Dodgers.
Quick Facts
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Shohei Ohtani |
| Date of Birth | July 5, 1994 |
| Age | 32 |
| Birthplace | Oshu, Iwate, Japan |
| Height | 6 ft 4 in (193 cm) |
| Position | Pitcher / Designated Hitter |
| Current Team | Los Angeles Dodgers |
| Wife | Mamiko Tanaka (married 2024) |
| Children | 1 daughter (born 2025) |
| Estimated Net Worth | ~$250 million (estimate) |
Early Life
Shohei Ohtani was born on July 5, 1994, in Oshu, Iwate, Japan. Athleticism runs in the family: his father Toru played baseball in Japan's corporate leagues, and his mother Kayoko was a national-level badminton player. Ohtani began playing baseball at a young age and attended Hanamaki Higashi High School, where his fastball reportedly reached 99 mph — a Japanese high school record at the time.
Despite expressing early interest in jumping straight to MLB, he was selected first overall by the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters in the 2012 NPB draft after the team promised to let him develop as a rare two-way player.
Baseball Career
Japan: Nippon-Ham Fighters (2013–2017)
Ohtani starred for the Fighters from 2013 to 2017, winning the Japan Series in 2016 and establishing himself as the best two-way player in Japanese baseball history.
Los Angeles Angels (2018–2023)
Ohtani joined the Los Angeles Angels in 2018 and immediately made history, winning AL Rookie of the Year. His 2021 season is considered one of the greatest individual seasons ever played: he hit 46 home runs while posting a 3.18 ERA on the mound, earning unanimous AL MVP. He won the award again in 2023 after leading the league in home runs, OPS, and several pitching categories. Across six Angels seasons he drew constant comparisons to Babe Ruth and became the face of baseball's global growth, particularly in Japan.
One off-field episode briefly shadowed his Angels exit: in 2024 his longtime interpreter Ippei Mizuhara pleaded guilty to stealing roughly $17 million from Ohtani to cover gambling debts. Ohtani was cleared of any wrongdoing by MLB and federal investigators.
Los Angeles Dodgers (2024–present)
In December 2023, Ohtani signed a groundbreaking 10-year, $700 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers — the largest contract in MLB history. In a remarkable structure he proposed himself, $680 million is deferred, so he earns only $2 million per year during the deal, with $68 million annual installments from 2034 to 2043.
His first Dodgers season was historic: he became the first player in MLB history to record a 50 home run / 50 stolen base season and won NL MVP in 2024. He led the Dodgers to the 2024 World Series title in his first season with the club, then repeated as NL MVP in 2025 while helping the Dodgers win back-to-back championships, defeating the Toronto Blue Jays in seven games. In the 2025 season he hit a career-high 55 home runs with 102 RBIs while also returning to the mound, where he posted a 2.87 ERA. His 2025 postseason was legendary: he reached base nine times in a single World Series game, a modern record, and pitched six scoreless innings in the NLCS. He was named NLCS MVP after hitting eight postseason home runs, including two in the Dodgers' epic 18-inning Game 3 World Series win over Toronto.
When the 2025 NL MVP vote was announced on November 13, 2025, Ohtani took all 30 first-place votes — a unanimous MVP for the fourth time in his career. He is the only player in MLB history with more than one unanimous MVP, the first to win multiple MVPs in both the American and National Leagues, and only the second player ever to reach four MVP awards, joining Barry Bonds.
2026 season: full two-way return cut short by injury
In 2026, Ohtani finally returned to full two-way duty — and dominated on both sides. Across 14 starts he went 8–2 with a 1.79 ERA and 95 strikeouts in 85.2 innings, while batting .275 with 30 home runs and 81 RBIs in 139 games as the designated hitter. But the pitching comeback ended early: his last start came on July 3, and September biceps trouble — along with knee soreness — landed him on the 15-day injured list. The Dodgers shut him down from pitching for the remainder of the season and reactivated him as a DH-only bat for the postseason run.
With four MVP awards (2021, 2023, 2024, 2025), Ohtani stands among the most decorated players of his generation — and at 32, he remains in his prime. In January 2026, MLB Network ranked him No. 1 on its #Top100RightNow list for the fourth time in his career, and he is the only player ever to post a 50 home run / 50 stolen base season.
Wife and Family
In February 2024, Ohtani surprised fans by announcing on Instagram that he had married Mamiko Tanaka, a former professional basketball player in Japan's Women's Japan Basketball League who played for the Fujitsu Red Wave before retiring in 2023. The couple kept the wedding entirely private; her identity was revealed publicly about two weeks after the announcement.
In April 2025, Ohtani announced the birth of the couple's first child, a daughter, sharing the news on Instagram and thanking his wife. The couple keeps their family life private, and their daughter's name has not been made public. Their dog, Decoy (Dekopin), is a fan favorite in his own right.
Net Worth
Ohtani's net worth is estimated at approximately $250 million (Celebrity Net Worth, via Parade, 2026) — up sharply from earlier estimates as his endorsement income exploded. He reportedly earns tens of millions annually from global endorsements with brands including New Balance, Seiko, Hugo Boss, and Topps, dwarfing his $2 million on-field salary during the deferred-contract years. All published figures are estimates, not confirmed.
Forbes projected Ohtani as the highest-paid player in baseball in 2026, with an estimated $127 million in total earnings — roughly $125 million from endorsements and business ventures versus just $2 million in Dodgers cash salary, more than the combined totals of the next two players on the list. His sponsor roster now includes New Balance, Seiko, Hugo Boss, Porsche, Salesforce, Japan Airlines, and Topps, plus a 2026 deal with Japanese firm Kirin's immune-health supplements. The "Ohtani effect" has also transformed the Dodgers' business — Celebrity Net Worth credits the surge in Japanese sponsorships, tourism, and merchandise with making the Dodgers the first MLB franchise to generate more than $1 billion in annual revenue. (Some outlets publish lower net-worth estimates, around $150 million; every figure remains an unaudited estimate.)
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Shohei Ohtani's wife?
Mamiko Tanaka, a former professional basketball player in Japan's top women's league. They married in early 2024.
How old is Shohei Ohtani?
Born July 5, 1994, he is 32 years old.
What is Shohei Ohtani's net worth?
Estimated at around $250 million (2026), driven largely by massive endorsement income alongside his $700 million Dodgers contract.
What is Shohei Ohtani's contract with the Dodgers?
A 10-year, $700 million deal signed in December 2023 — the largest in MLB history — with $680 million deferred to 2034–2043.
Does Shohei Ohtani have children?
Yes — one daughter, born in April 2025.