Overview

• Shohei Ohtani hit his first home run since the birth of his daughter on April 19, leading the Dodgers to a 15-2 win over the Marlins on April 29.
• Ohtani, who took two days of paternity leave under MLB's collective bargaining agreement, expressed gratitude for his family's health despite adjusting to disrupted routines and sleep deprivation.
• MLB remains the only major North American sports league with guaranteed paternity leave, contrasting with Japanese professional leagues where such policies are absent.
• Japanese athletes, including soccer player Ken Tokura and pitcher Yusuke Nishiyama, are advocating for formal paternity leave policies, inspired by Ohtani's example.
• Ohtani's actions have ignited broader cultural discussions in Japan about work-life balance and the importance of supporting fatherhood in professional sports.