Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani said Thursday he is "happy" with married life but kept secret the identity of his wife.
Speaking to reporters in Glendale, Arizona, where he is in camp with the team, Ohtani, 29, said he first met the woman three or four years ago in Japan and they got engaged last year.
"I feel happy being together with her," Ohtani said, adding that before deciding to marry, he was able to imagine being with the woman for a long time.
Ohtani was coy when asked about his partner and did not reveal when or how they started dating, nor exactly when they got married.
After being asked if the marriage affected his decision to enter free agency last year before joining the Dodgers, he said, "No, not at all."
"She respected my decision...and offered to come with me wherever I go. So, where I want to play baseball was my top priority," he said.
Ohtani surprised fans by posting on Instagram on Thursday that he married the woman.
"Not only have I begun a new chapter in my career with the Dodgers but I also have (begun) 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," Ohtani posted.
The Instagram post included a shot of Ohtani's dog Dekopin, also known as Decoy, who gained a worldwide profile after appearing on TV alongside the Japanese two-way star as he accepted his 2023 American League Most Valuable Player award last November.
"Although we will be starting with a new team in a new environment, we hope that the two of us (and also one animal) will work together, support each other, and move forward together with our fans," Ohtani wrote while requesting for privacy for his and his wife's families.
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