Shohei Ohtani and his wife Mamiko Tanaka had all eyes on them following the Los Angeles Dodgers star’s latest career milestone.
On Wednesday, Ohtani was named the National League’s Most Valuable Player, giving the MLB star the third MVP win of his career. He earned a unanimous selection with 30 first-place votes for 420 points.
Interestingly, it was his fellow Dodgers player Clayton Kershaw who proudly announced Ohtani as the winner during the live broadcast.
However, amid the celebration, an unexpected moment between the Dodgers star and his wife captivated fans.
Ohtani and Tanaka were seen sharing a fist-bump as the former celebrated the MVP win with the people around him.
In the comment sections, fans gushed over how Ohtani greeted his wife.
“Was that his wife he fist-bumped ?!?!?” one wrote.
The same goes for the second user who noticed the gesture and commented, “The fist bump to his wife.”
“Fist bump?! They are so cute,” a third fan added.
While some were unfamiliar with such a gesture between a couple, others speculated on the possible reason behind it.
“A display of affection in public for a Japanese married couple is not their culture,” one wrote, while another explained, “Speaking as an Asian, this is kinda normal.”
One user noted that Tanaka is an athlete herself, just like her husband.
“She’s a baller too, so they’re all fam.”
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Shohei Ohtani walks the red carpet with wife Mamiko Tanaka
Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
Shohei Ohtani announced his marriage to Mamiko Tanaka in February 2024 in an Instagram post.
According to him, he not only “began a new chapter” in his career with the Dodgers but also began a new life with someone “very special” to him. Beyond being Ohtani’s wife, Tanaka is a former Japanese basketball player.
The 5-foot-11 forward played professionally for the Fujitsu Red Wave in the Women’s Japan Basketball League before retiring in 2023.
