Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani has announced that he is married.

TOKYO -- Baseball sensation Shohei Ohtani has made a surprising revelation by announcing his marriage.

Taking to Instagram on Thursday in Japanese, Ohtani wrote, "As the season draws near, I'd like to share with everyone that I have tied the knot." While he didn't disclose the identity of his spouse, he mentioned she is a "Japanese woman" and hinted at revealing more details in an interview, likely at the Los Angeles Dodgers' spring training venue. The 29-year-old Ohtani, a revered figure in Japan, has always maintained a tight lid on his personal life, keeping it separate from his baseball career, which has been marked by its sterling reputation and devoid of any scandals or tabloid fodder. Having recently transitioned from the Los Angeles Angels to the Dodgers in a groundbreaking deal worth $700 million over a decade, Ohtani expressed, "I've embarked on a new journey with the Dodgers, and concurrently, I've entered a new chapter in my personal life with someone special from my homeland of Japan." In his Instagram post, Ohtani also urged the media to refrain from unauthorized interviews. Accompanying the announcement was a photo featuring his dog "Dekopin," also known as "Decoy," with Ohtani expressing hope for a harmonious collaboration between the trio. The news, breaking in the middle of the night in North America and late afternoon in Japan, immediately became the talk of the town in his home country, dominating local television headlines. Japanese television regularly reports on Ohtani's training endeavors in the United States, and his unprecedented success has propelled him to the status of a national hero, with the Dodgers unofficially becoming Japan's team of choice. While currently training in Arizona for the upcoming Major League Baseball season, Ohtani is gearing up for the Dodgers' opening games in Seoul, South Korea, against the San Diego Padres on March 20-21. However, Ohtani, who recently underwent elbow surgery, will not be pitching this season. Instead, he will serve as a designated hitter, with the possibility of also playing in the field. In his debut during spring training this week, he showcased his prowess with a two-run home run against the Chicago White Sox. With an impressive record of 171 home runs, including 44 last season, and a career batting average of .274, Ohtani has also excelled on the pitching mound, boasting a 38-19 record over five seasons. Despite missing the 2019 season due to elbow surgery, he maintains a career ERA of 3.01.

Having been crowned the American League Rookie of the Year in 2018 and subsequently clinching the American League MVP titles in 2021 and 2023, Ohtani's extraordinary talent as a two-way player has often drawn comparisons to the legendary Babe Ruth.