It was supposed to be a celebration—Shohei Ohtani’s 31st birthday. A crisp two-inning return on the mound, and maybe even a Los Angeles Dodgers win to wrap it all up. Instead, it ended with another loss to the Houston Astros and a postgame press conference that peeled back the curtain on Ohtani’s state of mind now.

Saturday’s loss of 6-4 to the Houston Astros was LA’s second straight loss to them. And while this one was not a blowout like the other, the same problems were seen. The offense was ice cold; the bullpen was unreliable. Even with Ohtani firing two scoreless innings, striking out the side in the second, the Dodgers didn’t get enough momentum. And this time, Ohtani didn’t shy away from speaking his mind.

Clearly dejected, he said, “We’ve had a losing streak, so I’d like to do my best to get the last game of the series tomorrow. Not quite happy with my offensive contribution. We lost two games against the Astros. So, it’s really important for us to win the next one and go home.” But while Ohtani might be blunt here, there is something that has changed. It’ how he sees through these rough patches. And it’s family!

Ohtani shared, “I think it’s quite different now. Having a family and having children changes things again, and there are things on and off the field that change your outlook on life. It’s not always a positive thing, but I think it helps you grow, so I think everything is an experience.” Just two months ago, he and his wife, Mamiko, welcomed their first child—a daughter. And if you were wondering whether it changed him, the answer is all over the quote.

His world now stretches beyond the diamond, and it’s not like this change happened overnight. Remember Toru Ohtani and his father’s heartfelt letter last season? He had credited Mamiko for being the difference-maker for Ohtani. “Shohei has reached a major milestone by marrying Mamiko, and I have the impression that he is playing baseball more calmly… Without Mamiko-san, you wouldn’t be the Shohei Ohtani you are today,” he wrote.

And it might be hard to argue, because through a massive surgery, expectations, fatherhood, and a slump, too, Ohtani always showed up with an air of peace, even in chaos.

Shohei Ohtani eyes a rare MLB record

Shohei Ohtani might have given an honest take on his birthday. But if there is one thing the baseball world agrees on, it’s that he is still chasing greatness. According to Bleacher Report’s Tim Kelly, he is on the brink of making history. Yes, yet again—as if the 50-50 club was not enough!

So here is the buzz—Ohtani is predicted to become just the second player in MLB history to win four MVP awards. That’s right—four! The only other player who has ever done it is none other than the legend Barry Bonds. He took home seven MVPs in his 22-season career. But here is the real difference—Bonds didn’t win his fourth until his 16th year at age 36. And Ohtani could get there in his eighth season at 30 years old.

To be fair, the numbers are on Ohtani’s side. He is leading all of baseball in runs scored and also tops the NL with 30 home runs. His .622 slugging percentage and 1.006 OPS are also NL best. He already has MVP wins in 2021, 2023, and 2024. He missed 2022, to Aaron Judge, by a nudge. Well, what a resume, right?

Ohtani might have a rough outing, but creating history—that’s going right on track.