ARLINGTON, Texas — International star, three-time MVP, two-way unicorn – Shohei Ohtani is adding a new descriptor this weekend. He’s becoming a father.
Ohtani did not travel to Texas with the Dodgers for their three-game series against the Texas Rangers. Instead he stayed in Southern California where his wife, Mamiko, is expected to give birth to the couple’s first child this weekend.
Ohtani announced Mamiko’s pregnancy on Instagram in late December but he did not reveal any details – like the child’s due date – at that time. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts offered few details Friday when the team placed Ohtani on the paternity list and promoted Eddie Rosario from Triple-A Oklahoma City.
“He and Mamiko are expecting at some point,” Roberts said. “That’s all I know. I don’t know when he’s going to come back. I don’t know when they’re going to have the baby. But obviously they are together in anticipation.”
Players on paternity leave are allowed to miss no more than three games unless there is a complicating factor of some kind. Roberts said “there’s a chance” Ohtani could rejoin the team before the end of the weekend.
Known for his single-minded focus on baseball and his love of routine – and sleep – Ohtani has continued to perform at a high level through other life changes. Roberts said he expects him to handle fatherhood the same way.
“He is a very good compartmentalizer,” Roberts said. “He loves his sleep. So it’ll be interesting to see how the sleep wins out or it doesn’t win out when you have a baby.”
Rosario was hitting .339 with a .948 OPS in 14 games for OKC. Right-hander Edgardo Henriquez was placed on the 60-day injured list in order to clear a 40-man roster spot for Rosario. Henriquez suffered a fractured foot during spring training.
COMING SOON
Right-hander Evan Phillips is scheduled to make another rehab appearance with Oklahoma City on Saturday. If all goes well, Phillips will then join the Dodgers in Chicago and be activated from the IL before the two-game series against the Cubs beginning on Tuesday.
Phillips suffered a torn ligament in his rotator cuff during the postseason last fall and was delayed starting his throwing program this spring. He didn’t pitch during the Cactus League schedule but has thrown 5⅔ innings over six rehab appearances with OKC.
Meanwhile, right-hander Tony Gonsolin is expected to make one more rehab start with OKC early next week. Gonsolin could be ready to join the Dodgers’ starting rotation after that.
“The expectation is he’ll go five (innings), and then we’ll see where he drops in,” Roberts said on Friday.
The Dodgers are in the midst of a stretch with three off days in an eight-day span – Thursday, Monday and next Thursday. Gonsolin could join the rotation during a six-game homestand against the Pittsburgh Pirates and Miami Marlins, most likely on April 29.
SNELL STATUS
Left-hander Blake Snell started his throwing program on Monday and has progressed to long-tossing from 115 feet on Friday. He is on track to test his injured shoulder by throwing off a mound “sometime, really, next week makes sense,” Roberts said.
Snell has not pitched since April 2 and would likely make at least one rehab start (or face hitters in a simulated-game setting) before being activated from the IL.
ALSO
Right-hander Bobby Miller was returned to Triple-A after his start on Wednesday and right-hander Noah Davis was promoted from OKC. A veteran of 18 games with the Colorado Rockies in 2022-24, Davis was acquired for cash considerations from the Boston Red Sox and made five appearances with OKC, posting a 7.94 ERA and striking out nine in 5⅔ innings.
UP NEXT
Dodgers (RHP Roki Sasaki, 0-1, 3.29 ERA) at Rangers (RHP Nathan Eovaldi, 1-2, 2.55 ERA), Saturday, 1:05 p.m., FOX (Ch. 11), 570 AM
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