Shohei Ohtani and his wife Mamiko Tanaka arrive in South Korea for the Dodgers-Padres MLB home opener

Seoul, South Korea (AFP) – Shohei Otani His wife arrived in South Korea with his Los Angeles Dodgers teammates on Friday before the game Season opening matches With the San Diego Padres next week.

Ohtani, wearing a black training suit and backwards hat, was the first Dodgers player to arrive at the arrivals gate at Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul. his wife, Mamiko Tanakawalked several steps behind him.

As a crowd of fans, many wearing Dodgers jerseys, chanted his name and shouted slogans, Ohtani briefly waved his hand and Tanaka smiled, but neither said anything before they boarded the limousine bus. Fans carried signs reading “GOATANI (The Greatest of All Time is Ohtani) GO” and “Ohtani Baseball Genius.”

Before leaving for South Korea, Ohtani, a Japanese two-way phenomenon, revealed his wife's identity by posting a photo of himself with Tanaka, a former professional basketball player, on his Instagram account. Japanese media have already speculated that Ohtani's wife is likely Tanaka.

Tanaka, 27, played for the Fujitsu Red Wave in the Japan Women's Basketball League from 2019-2023.

In late February, Ohtani, 29, said in his Instagram post that he was married to her “An ordinary Japanese woman” Whom he had known for three to four years. But he did not say exactly who his wife was.

In Ohtani's Instagram post, he and Tanaka were photographed in front of a plane alongside teammate Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Dodgers He posted a photo of Ohtani-Tanaka A couple on the team's X (formerly Twitter) account next to one Mookie Betts and his wife.

The upcoming Dodgers-Padres games will be Ohtani's first game with the Dodgers. In December, Ohtani, formerly of the Los Angeles Angels, signed a record-breaking contract 700 million dollars10-year contract to join the Dodgers.

Ohtani underwent surgery on his right elbow last September Won't pitch this chapter. He will be used as a designated hitter and there is a possibility that he will play in the outfield.

Social media in Japan and South Korea are abuzz with messages about Ohtani and his wife.

“Very impressed to see how Ohtani talked about his new bride, Mamiko Tanaka,” one X user said in Japanese.

“Ohtani’s wife is really beautiful. They are both made for each other,” one X user said in Korean. “Their future son will be a super athlete,” another Korean message said.

The Padres arrived earlier Friday. The two-game series at the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on March 20-21 will be the first regular season games for Major League Baseball in South Korea.

Meanwhile, airport police said they arrested a South Korean man who allegedly threw an egg near Dodgers manager Dave Roberts at the airport. Police said they were trying to determine the motive behind his action, but his family told investigators that the man, who is in his mid-twenties, had a history of mental illness.

___

Associated Press writer Jiwon Song contributed to this report.

___

ABMLP: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb