Shohei Ohtani, the $700m Dodgers star, stuns with surprise marriage announcement

Shohei Ohtani, the $700m Dodgers star stunned his fans and teammates with a surprise marriage announcement.

Following weeks of speculation, Ohtani joined the Dodgers in December on a historic 10-year, $ 700 million deal, the most lucrative contract in the history of North American sports.

The 29-year-old Japanese baseball star took to Instagram to break the news, which racked up almost 1.5 million likes in just one hour, leaving the single fans in his native country mourning.

“To all my friends and fans throughout, I have an announcement to make,” he said.

“Not only have I began a new chapter in my career with the Dodgers but I also have 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 designated hitter and pitcher said.

 

His announcement became headlines in Japan within hours.

The Japan Times wrote, in an article titled ‘Ohtani is taken. It’s enough to make you cry.’

‘It seems that literally everyone and their moms were in mourning over the loss of a possible fairy-tale marriage with Japan’s prince charming,’ the publication said.

The Japan Times reported that the term ‘shitsuren kyuuka’ – which means ‘heartbreak leave’ – was trending on X after the news broke, as was ‘Dekopin’ (the name of Ohtani’s dog) and ‘marriage announcement’