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Ohtani Leaves Dodgers for Second Child, Returns Soon

6/20/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Shohei Ohtani left the Dodgers lineup on June 20, 2026 for the birth of his second child.
The Dodgers placed him on paternity leave but kept him on the active roster, allowing a possible return against Baltimore.
Manager Dave Roberts said he learned of the pregnancy only “very recently” and expected Ohtani could return Saturday.
His Instagram announcement early June 20 drew 1.6 million likes in seven hours.

History

Historical Context

The MLB paternity list, created in 2011, lets teams replace a new father for up to three games. The list persisted through the 2022 collective bargaining agreement that introduced the designated hitter and a five-year term ending in 2026. On June 20 2026, Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani used the rule for his second child, showing the agreement’s lasting family-support impact.

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Story summary

Shohei Ohtani left the Dodgers lineup on June 20, 2026 for the birth of his second child.
The Dodgers placed him on paternity leave but kept him on the active roster, allowing a possible return against Baltimore.
Manager Dave Roberts said he learned of the pregnancy only “very recently” and expected Ohtani could return Saturday.
His Instagram announcement early June 20 drew 1.6 million likes in seven hours.

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