Shohei Ohtani was absent from the Los Angeles Dodgers' lineup Friday night as he stepped away from the team on paternity leave, underscoring the growing recognition across professional sports that athletes deserve time for family milestones. The team announced in a post on X that the two-way superstar is expected to return this weekend, meaning he wasn't placed on MLB's paternity list.
Manager Dave Roberts said after a 6-5 win over the Baltimore Orioles that he hopes Ohtani returns Saturday but he had not talked to him. Roberts said he found out very recently that Ohtani was going to be a father again and added, "Keeping his privacy," smiling. The team's lineup for Friday's series opener came out less than an hour before gametime, with Ryan Ward listed as the designated hitter batting seventh.
Privacy and Family Balance
Asked three hours before the game about the delayed lineup, Roberts said he was working out some things with some position players and made no mention of Ohtani. Roberts was asked about Ohtani's sore left knee and said he had not spoken to him Friday. "Just assuming that after the off day he's in a good spot," the manager said.
Roberts often mentions if a player is expecting a baby, and the team typically announces when they have been placed on paternity leave. Ohtani, who turns 32 on July 5, and his 29-year-old wife, Mamiko Tanaka, became first-time parents in April 2025 with the birth of their daughter. He first announced on social media in December 2024 that the couple was expecting. The famously private Ohtani has never publicly revealed her name and has carefully avoided showing her face in the rare family photos he posts to his social media.
Smith's Ongoing Health Concerns
While Ohtani prepares to return, Dodgers catcher Will Smith is still dealing with a neck injury that has him on the injured list. The three-time All-Star was due to return Friday but Roberts said Smith won't be activated this weekend and may not travel with the team on its road trip that begins Monday in Minnesota.
Roberts said Smith had a scan and was going to have an injection to kind of minimize the sensation. "He feels OK, not great," the manager said. "We're just trying to make sure that we don't have a setback when he comes back." Smith has continued doing baseball activities, including a full workout Tuesday.
The dual absences highlight the human realities behind professional athletics—players navigating family responsibilities and health challenges while teams work to support their well-being alongside competitive demands.
Why This Matters:
Ohtani's brief absence for the birth of his second child reflects evolving workplace norms that recognize family leave as essential, even in high-stakes professional sports where every game carries playoff implications. The contrast with Smith's prolonged injury recovery underscores the physical toll of a grueling baseball season and the importance of prioritizing long-term player health over short-term roster needs. As teams increasingly balance competitive pressures with worker well-being, these decisions set precedents for how professional sports organizations support athletes as whole people, not just performers. The Dodgers' cautious approach to Smith's return, prioritizing prevention of setbacks over immediate availability, demonstrates institutional responsibility that protects workers from being pushed back too soon.