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Photo: Shohei Ohtani, Mamiko Tanaka / Instagram   Shohei Ohtani , star of the Los Angeles Dodgers and one of baseball's biggest names, made headlines again this week—but not for his play on the field. Instead, it was Ohtani and his wife, Mamiko Tanaka , who captured attention during the Lakers vs. Trail Blazers game in Los Angeles on Sunday night. Ohtani, fresh off a historic season with the Dodgers, is coming off a World Series win after signing a record-breaking 10-year, $700 million contract. In 2023, he became the first MLB player ever to achieve 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in a single season. Although he didn't pitch last year due to UCL surgery , Ohtani remains a star both as a hitter and pitcher, boasting a career 3.01 ERA. But this time, it wasn’t just Shohei making waves. His wife, Mamiko Tanaka, turned heads at the Lakers game. A former professional basketball player for the Fujitsu Red Wave in Japan, Tanaka rarely makes public appearances with Ohtani, which ma...

Photo: Shohei Ohtani / Instagram Baseball star Shohei Ohtani is asking his former interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara , to return $325,000 worth of baseball cards he says were bought with stolen money. Ohtani, who now plays for the Los Angeles Dodgers, filed court documents this week claiming Mizuhara used his bank account without permission starting in late 2021. Mizuhara allegedly changed Ohtani’s security settings to make wire transfers and used the money to buy the cards from online sites like eBay and Whatnot. Mizuhara has already pleaded guilty to stealing nearly $17 million from Ohtani. Prosecutors say he spent the money on gambling, debts, medical bills, and the baseball cards. Mizuhara will be sentenced in January and could face over 30 years in prison, as well as deportation to Japan. Photo: Shohei Ohtani / Instagram In addition to the cards, Ohtani is demanding Mizuhara return signed collectible cards featuring him, which were also allegedly stolen. Mizuhara was a close companion...

Photo: Shohei Ohtani / Instagram Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani made history on Thursday night, winning his third Most Valuable Player (MVP) award unanimously. Ohtani became just the second player ever, after Frank Robinson, to win the MVP in both the American and National Leagues. This season, Ohtani hit 54 home runs and stole 59 bases, becoming the first player in MLB history to join the 50-50 club . He also had a .310 batting average and led the National League with a 1.036 OPS. Even though he played only as a designated hitter due to injury, his performance outshined other MVP finalists, including New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor and Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte. Ohtani earned all 30 first-place votes from the Baseball Writers’ Association of America, finishing with 420 points. Lindor came in second with 263 points, followed by Marte with 229 points. Photo: Shohei Ohtani / Instagram “I’m very happy to win this award,” Ohtani said through his inte...

Photo: Shohei Ohtani / Instagram Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani has been named the 2024 Edgar Martinez Outstanding Designated Hitter, his fourth straight time winning the award. Ohtani previously won the honor from 2021-2023 with the Los Angeles Angels. This year, his first with the Dodgers, he continued his dominance at the plate and helped the team to an incredible season. The 30-year-old slugger hit 54 home runs, drove in 130 runs, and smashed 38 doubles. He batted .310 with an on-base percentage of .390 and a slugging percentage of .646. Ohtani also made history, becoming the first player in MLB history to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in the same season. Photo: Shohei Ohtani / Instagram His performance helped the Dodgers lead the National League in home runs and rank second in total runs scored. Ohtani’s 1.036 OPS was the best in the National League and second overall in MLB, just behind Aaron Judge of the Yankees. While Ohtani cooled off a bit during the posts...

Photo: Shohei Ohtani (Instagram) The Los Angeles Dodgers spent a whopping $1 billion to sign two of baseball’s biggest stars: Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto . Tonight, the team hopes to see a return on that investment. With Yamamoto pitching and Ohtani leading the offense, the Dodgers are just one win away from the World Series. They lead the National League Championship Series 2-1 against the New York Mets, after crushing them in two earlier games with scores of 9-0 and 8-0. Ohtani, who hit a huge home run in the last game, has had a bit of a rough postseason, batting only .226. But teammates like Mookie Betts aren’t worried. “He’s the best player on the field every day,” Betts said, urging fans to relax. “It’s Shohei. It’s fine.” Photo: Shohei Ohtani (Instagram) As for Yamamoto, his teammates believe he’s ready for the pressure. “Yoshi is a big-game pitcher, and his stuff makes him one of the best pitchers in the world,” said backup catcher Austin Barnes. If the Dodgers win t...

Photo: Shohei Ohtani (Instagram) Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers made history Thursday night. He became the first player in Major League Baseball to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in the same season. In the game against the Miami Marlins, Ohtani hit his 50th home run in the seventh inning. Earlier in the game, he stole his 50th base. Ohtani also had the first five-hit game of his career, including another home run in the sixth inning. Fans were amazed by Ohtani's performance. In the ninth inning, he hit a three-run home run, bringing his total for the game to 10 RBIs. Photo: Shohei Ohtani (Instagram) Earlier in the season, Ohtani joined the 43 home run and 43 stolen base club. Now, with his latest game, he’s the first player in MLB history to join the 51-51 club. SHOHEI OHTANI HAS DONE IT 50 HOME RUNS | 50 STOLEN BASES HISTORY pic.twitter.com/GRVJUCbpja — MLB (@MLB) September 19, 2024 Ohtani signed a 10-year, $700 million contract with the Dodgers in December 20...

Photo: Instagram/Shohei Ohtani The Los Angeles Dodgers celebrated Women's Night during their home game against the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday. The evening kicked off with players naming their favorite female athletes, followed by special women in their lives picking walk-up songs for their at-bats. The Dodgers won the game 5-2. When players arrived at the stadium, they were asked to name their favorite female athletes. Many mentioned famous stars like tennis legend Serena Williams or WNBA player Caitlin Clark . Photo: Instagram/Shohei Ohtani However, Shohei Ohtani had a perfect and heartfelt answer. Without hesitation, he named his wife, Mamiko Tanaka , who played professional basketball in Japan for four years before retiring last year. Here's Ohtani giving his answer: Shohei understood the assignment pic.twitter.com/kL6rE6b5PG — Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) July 24, 2024 Here's the full video with other Dodgers players sharing their choices: View this po...

Photo: Instagram/Shohei Ohtani Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani hit his 27th home run of the season on Tuesday night, giving his team a one-run lead against the Arizona Diamondbacks.  But during the celebration, a young fan in the right-field seats was hit in the head by the home run ball. The ball left Ohtani’s bat at 112 mph and struck the child in the forehead as other fans tried to catch it. Photo: Instagram/Shohei Ohtani It’s not yet known if the fan was seriously injured.  Ohtani's home run helped the Dodgers win 6-5.  Despite not pitching this season due to elbow surgery , Ohtani is hitting .320, just below Aaron Judge ’s .321. Ohtani also passed Gunnar Henderson for second in home runs in MLB. Shohei Ohtani’s 27th home run bounces off little kid’s forehead. I hope he’s OK. @SportsNetLA #Dodgers pic.twitter.com/UIigMtHMhR — Miguel A. Melendez (@MelendezReports) July 3, 2024 Ohtani, who signed a 10-year, $700 million deal with the Dodgers this offseaso...

Photo: Instagram/Shohei Ohtani Shohei Ohtani shined bright in the Los Angeles Dodgers' win over the Kansas City Royals on Sunday. He hit two home runs, one of which was a massive 451-foot shot to left-center field. Ohtani's first homer came in the third inning, putting the Dodgers ahead 1-0. The ball flew with a launch angle of 27 degrees and an exit speed of 114.3 miles per hour. This 451-foot blast was Ohtani's second homer of 450 feet or more at Dodger Stadium this season. According to MLB.com's Sarah Langs, he's the first player to do this since the Statcast Era began in 2015. Photo: Instagram/Shohei Ohtani In 2024, Ohtani now has three homers over 450 feet. The Dodgers' record for a season is held by Joc Pederson, who hit four in 2015. With more than three months left in the season, Ohtani has a good chance to tie or break that record. Ohtani's second home run came in the sixth inning, a 400-foot solo shot to right, doubling the Dodgers' lead. Fred...

Photo: Instagram/Shohei Ohtani The City of Los Angeles celebrated its newest honorary day on Friday: " Shohei Ohtani Day." This special recognition will be held every May 17 as long as Ohtani plays for the Dodgers, which will be for at least the next decade. The day began with a ceremony at City Hall where Ohtani was honored for his athletic achievements and his impact as a Japanese American. Dodgers officials, including manager Dave Roberts, attended the event where the city council presented Ohtani with a special resolution. Ohtani didn’t stop there. He returned to Dodger Stadium and hit a two-run homer off the Reds’ Frankie Montas, helping the Dodgers secure a 7-3 win. "We’ll take the home run on Shohei Ohtani Day," Roberts said. "That was a big hit. We just marvel at what he does." Photo: Instagram/Shohei Ohtani Ohtani has made a significant mark since his MLB debut in 2018. He was named American League Rookie of the Year, became the first Japanese-bo...

Photo: Instagram/Shohei Ohtani Los Angeles Dodgers' designated hitter Shohei Ohtani exited Saturday night's game against the San Diego Padres early due to back tightness.  Ohtani, who went 0 for 3 with a walk before leaving, was replaced by pinch-hitter Kiké Hernández in the ninth inning.  Dodgers' manager Dave Roberts stated that Ohtani's back tightened up before his fourth at-bat, prompting the decision to remove him from the game with the Dodgers leading 5-0. Photo: Instagram/Shohei Ohtani Roberts expressed minimal concern but hinted that Ohtani might sit out Sunday's game as a precautionary measure.  Ohtani, who signed a 10-year, $700 million contract with the Dodgers last December, has been one of the top hitters in the league this season, boasting a 1.090 OPS and a .352 batting average, with 11 home runs and 27 RBIs. Read Next: Derrick Lewis' KO Victory at UFC St. Louis Overshadowed By Unforgettable Celebration Source: AP News  

Photo: Instagram/Ippei Mizuhara Ippei Mizuhara , the former interpreter for Japanese baseball sensation Shohei Ohtani, has agreed to plead guilty to charges in the United States related to the illegal transfer of nearly $17 million from Ohtani's bank account.  In a deal struck with Los Angeles prosecutors, Mizuhara will plead guilty to bank fraud and filing a false tax return. The allegations shocked baseball fans both in Japan and America when they surfaced in March.  Prosecutors claim that Mizuhara, 39, used Ohtani's funds to settle his own debts and fuel a gambling habit. He reportedly deceived bank officials by posing as Ohtani to authorize wire transfers to associates of an illegal gambling operation. Additionally, he allegedly spent $325,000 on baseball cards using Ohtani's money between January and March of this year. Photo: Instagram/Ippei Mizuhara and Shohei Ohtani The charges against Mizuhara carry significant penalties, with bank fraud punishable by up to 30 ye...

Photo: Instagram/Shohei Ohtani Before the Dodgers faced the Braves, Shohei Ohtani pulled a playful prank on manager Dave Roberts. Promising Roberts a car to mark his record-breaking home runs, Ohtani delivered a toy Porsche instead, sparking laughter between the two. During Saturday night's game, Ohtani made history by hitting his eighth homer of the season, surpassing Roberts' record for most homers by a Japanese-born player in Dodgers history, just 34 games into his Dodgers career. Explaining the backstory, Ohtani's pursuit of Roberts' record became a lighthearted joke between player and manager. This playful banter added a fun element to the baseball season. Photo: Instagram/Shohei Ohtani The journey to breaking the record included humorous moments, like Ohtani's reaction upon learning about Roberts' record and Roberts jokingly hoping his record wouldn't be broken too soon. Even amidst the jesting, Ohtani's dedication to the chase was evident. He pla...

Photo: Instagram/Shohei Ohtani Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers continues to amaze fans and teammates alike with his incredible talent on the field. In a recent game against the Blue Jays, Ohtani delivered yet another jaw-dropping performance by hitting the hardest ball recorded in the 2024 MLB season. His 119.2 mph single left spectators in awe and solidified his status as a superstar in the league. Pitching against fellow Japanese player Yusei Kikuchi, Ohtani's powerful hit showcased his exceptional skill and control at the plate. Despite Kikuchi's best efforts, Ohtani's remarkable talent prevailed, leaving even the opposing pitcher impressed. This isn't the first time Ohtani has made headlines with his powerful hits. Just days earlier, he smashed a home run with an exit velocity of 118.7 mph, marking the hardest-hit homer of his career and the 12th hardest by any player since 2015. Photo: Instagram/Shohei Ohtani Dodgers manager Dave Roberts expressed admirat...

Photo: Instagram/Shohei Ohtani On Sunday, Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers hit a two-run home run against the New York Mets, breaking Hideki Matsui's record for the most home runs by a Japanese-born player in MLB history. Ohtani's 176th career home run came in the third inning of the Dodgers' 10-0 victory over the Mets at Dodger Stadium. The 423-foot homer off Mets pitcher Adrian Houser gave the Dodgers an early 2-0 lead. Hideki Matsui set the previous record in 2012, and since then, few players have come close to challenging it. Unlike many Japanese players in the MLB who focus on pitching or contact hitting, Ohtani stands out with his exceptional power. He led the American League in home runs last season, becoming the first Japanese-born player to do so. Photo: Instagram/Shohei Ohtani The Dodgers dominated the game, scoring eight runs in the fifth inning alone, including a three-run homer from Andy Pages. Top MLB Home Run Leaders from Japan: 1. Shohei Ohtani - 17...

Photo: Instagram/Yoshinobu Yamamoto Yoshinobu Yamamoto lived up to the hype in his latest outing for the Dodgers, showcasing his pitching prowess with a stellar performance against the Cubs.  The young Japanese pitcher delivered a masterful display on Saturday, tallying eight strikeouts and conceding only three hits across five scoreless innings, propelling the Dodgers to a 4-1 triumph at Wrigley Field. Dubbed as an "artist" by Dodgers manager Dave Roberts for his exceptional pitching skills, Yamamoto proved his worth on the mound, securing his maiden win in Major League Baseball. The victory was not only a personal milestone but also a testament to his growing potential in the big leagues. Photo: Instagram/Yoshinobu Yamamoto Yamamoto's stellar performance drew praise from his teammates, with catcher Austin Barnes expressing confidence in his abilities, foreseeing a bright future for the promising pitcher. Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy echoed these sentiments, highligh...

Photo: Instagram/Shohei Ohtani Shohei Ohtani , the two-way phenom , shattered the silence of his relatively slow start with the Los Angeles Dodgers by smashing his first home run against the San Francisco Giants after nine games of anticipation. The remarkable feat unfolded during Wednesday's clash against the Giants, as Ohtani's bat connected with reliever Taylor Rogers' pitch, sending the ball soaring 430 feet at a blistering 105.6 mph off the bat, according to Statcast. Ohtani's left-handed homer against the sidearm left-hander Rogers marked a rare occurrence, as it was only the eighth home run allowed by Rogers in his nine-year MLB career, with Ohtani's being the first since 2021. Photo: Instagram/Shohei Ohtani The electrifying moment not only propelleAs Ohtani's bat roared to life, journeyman reliever Dinelson Lamet sealed the victory with his first career save, securing a 1-2-3 top of the ninth inning, solidifying the Dodgers' triumph over their rivals...

Photo: Instagram/Shohei Ohtani The baseball world finds itself ensnared in a saga involving Los Angeles Dodgers' standout Shohei Ohtani , his former translator Ippei Mizuhara , and allegations of gambling. While Ohtani vehemently denies any involvement , the unfolding federal and MLB investigations cast a shadow over the sport's integrity. Baseball, once the heart of American pastime, now grapples with dwindling public interest and waning viewership. Photo: Instagram/Shohei Ohtani Ohtani's transcendent talent and immense popularity have been a beacon of hope for the sport's resurgence, making his association with such a scandal all the more distressing. The surge in sports betting across the United States raises concerns about the potential for athletes and personnel succumbing to the temptations of gambling. Recent incidents involving NFL, NBA, and soccer figures underscore the pervasive nature of this issue, regardless of financial status. Baseball, scarred by its dar...