Overview

• Shohei Ohtani hit his first home run since the birth of his daughter, sparking the Dodgers’ 15-2 victory over the Miami Marlins on April 29, 2025.
• Ohtani’s swift return after two days of MLB-guaranteed paternity leave has drawn attention to disparities in parental leave policies between North American and Japanese sports leagues.
• In Japan, where only 30.1% of eligible men took paid parental leave in 2023, Ohtani’s actions have inspired calls for formalized paternity leave policies in professional sports.
• Japanese athletes like Ken Tokura and Yusuke Nishiyama have cited Ohtani’s example to advocate for greater acceptance of fatherhood roles and institutional support for parental leave.
• Dodgers manager Dave Roberts highlighted the concept of 'Dad Strength,' noting Ohtani’s impressive performance since returning to the field, including a 394-foot leadoff home run.