Shohei Ohtani Ties The Knot After Closing Dodgers Mega Deal

Baseball superstar Shohei Ohtani is officially a married man!

The Japanese athlete nicknamed "Shotime" recently announced he had secretly tied the knot to a special woman and is "excited" to embrace this new chapter of his life. The news comes two months after the 29-year-old's $700 million deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Ohtani surprised his 7.4 million followers with the big news on Instagram, dropping a picture of the announcement written in Japanese and the English translation in the post's caption.

The renowned athlete implied that many were unaware of his union, noting the update was for his "friends and fans." He wrote:

"Not only have I began a new chapter in my career with the Dodgers, but I have also began a new life with someone from my Native country of Japan who is very special to me, and I wanted everyone to know I am now married."

"I am excited for what is [to] come, and thank you for your support," the 29-year-old concluded. His announcement generated over two million likes in four hours and thousands of comments from happy fans, who blessed his union with prayers and well wishes.

"Mr Ohtani, congratulations on your marriage. I would like to congratulate you both from the bottom of my heart on this best day of your life," a fan shared, noting it must have been difficult for the baseball player to keep his relationship hidden.

"I'm sure the person you chose will be a wonderful woman. I hope your married life will be full of happiness," the individual concluded their lengthy comment. Another echoed similar sentiments, writing:

"Congratulations on your marriage!! Get a good companion, spend your time in a good environment with healthy, nutritious food in season, and take care of your dog!! Lol, watch out, there are haters all over the world!!"

Several Japanese celebrities supported Ohtani's new chapter, with illustrator Pantovisco chiming: "Congratulations on your marriage, wishing you many more years of happiness." Tennis player Miyu Kato and retired baseball player Hitoshi Tamura also shared similar congratulatory messages.

As of August 2023, Ohtani was reportedly single following the end of his relationship with ex-girlfriend Kamalani Dung. There is little information about the duo's romance as the baseball player was tight-lipped about their affair and frequently evaded questions about his personal life.

Nonetheless, the pair might have dated for a few years before their separation. According to a report by Sportskeeda, Dung, also known as "Kama Dung," is an American right-handed softball pitcher for the Athletes Unlimited Professional Sports League.

She is widely recognized for her exceptional softball skillset and has earned a gold medal in the 2018 Central American and Caribbean Games. Dung also works as a model and an actress, generating a net worth of around $1.5 million.

During Dung's time with Ohtani, the pair enjoyed a low-key romance that involved spending quality time in each other's company. They reportedly never thought of having kids, and this relationship seemed to be the only one the baseball player had before his newly announced marriage.

Two months before announcing his status as a married man, Ohtani made waves by closing a $700 million deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers last December. The dual-threat baseball star signed a 10-year contract with the MLB team, a decision that took a long time to make.

The 29-year-old apologized to fans on Instagram for the delay in his decision, writing: "To all the fans and everyone involved in the baseball world, I apologize for taking so long to come to a decision. I have decided to choose the Dodgers as my next team."

He also thanked everyone involved in his career over the past six years, especially his former team, the Los Angeles Angels. As for his new home, the baseball pitcher promised to give his all for the Dodgers, declaring:

"To all Dodgers fans, I pledge to always do what's best for the team and always continue to give it my all to be the best version of myself. Until the last day of my playing career, I want to continue to strive forward not only for the Dodgers but for the baseball world."

Ohtani's career move pleasantly surprised some of Hollywood's famous figures, with WWE star Cassie Lee reacting to the news with several emojis. Meanwhile, "Jacka–" star Johnny Knoxville exclaimed, "Wahoo!!" and former baseball player Alex Rodriquez wrote: "Congratulations" with several fire emojis.