SEOUL, South Korea — The Dodgers are making history with their games in South Korea this week. But even that was upstaged by Shohei Ohtani.
Just about two weeks after announcing his marriage on Instagram without identifying his new wife by name, Ohtani brought her on the trip and the two were photographed by Dodgers team photographer Jon Soo Hoo as part of the team’s travel party.
The photo caused a stir in Japanese media, where reporting had already identified the woman as Mamiko Tanaka, a 27-year-old former basketball player in Japan.
Ohani, 29, was asked for more details about his marriage and, particularly, the courtship during a press conference before the team’s workout on Saturday and he seemed to blush as teammates Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman, who were on stage with him, started laughing at the thought of Ohtani being so forthcoming.
“I gotta hear this,” Freeman said, putting in the earpiece of the translator device provided to each player. “Go ahead, Sho.”
Ohtani, who signed a record $700 million, 10-year contract to join the Dodgers in December, referred to his original post-marriage announcement interview at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Arizona.
“I answered all of the questions in an interview earlier so I don’t really want to,” he said Saturday, drawing laughter. “But it is the first time she’s coming to a game with me so I think it’s going to be really great memories for both of us. But like I said earlier, I’m focused on baseball.”
Ohtani was certainly well-rested for his arrival in Korea. According to Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, Ohtani led the team in hours logged sleeping during the 14-hour flight from Phoenix to Seoul – 11 hours, the early leader for Ohtani’s most impressive statistic as a Dodger.
As for focusing on baseball, that might be easier for Ohtani to do than anyone else, having lived the life of a celebrity for some time now. For the Dodgers, their way of life has changed – as…
Read the full article here
