Jun 20, 2026, 21:07

Shohei Ohtani Has a New Baby

大谷翔平迎來新寶寶

Introduction

Shohei Ohtani and his wife, Mamiko Tanaka, have a second child. Ohtani is not playing baseball for a short time.

大谷翔平與他的妻子田中真美子迎來了第二個孩子。大谷短期內將暫停參與棒球比賽。

Main Body

Ohtani and his wife told the news on Instagram on June 20, 2026. They have a daughter from 2025. They did not tell the baby's name or gender.

大谷與他的妻子於 2026 年 6 月 20 日在 Instagram 上公布了這個消息。他們在 2025 年有一個女兒。他們沒有透露寶寶的名字或性別。

Ohtani did not play in the game on June 19. He is at home with his baby. His manager, Dave Roberts, knew about the baby recently. Ohtani will play again this weekend.

大谷沒有參加 6 月 19 日的比賽。他目前在家陪伴寶寶。他的總教練 Dave Roberts 最近才得知寶寶出生的消息。大谷將於本週末回歸賽場。

Ohtani is playing very well this year. He has 15 home runs. He is also a great pitcher. He has some small injuries in his knee and finger, but he is still a top player. His team, the Dodgers, is the best in the league.

大谷今年的表現非常出色。他擊出了 15 支全壘打。他同時也是一名出色的投手。雖然他的膝蓋和手指有一些輕微傷勢，但他依然是頂尖球員。他的球隊道奇隊（Dodgers）是聯盟中最強的球隊。

Conclusion

Shohei Ohtani will play for the Dodgers again by the end of this weekend.

大谷翔平將在本週末結束前回道奇隊參加比賽。

Vocabulary Learning

⏱️ The Time Jump

In this story, we see three different 'times'. To reach A2, you must know how to change the action word to match the time.

1. Now (Current State)

Ohtani is a great pitcher.
The Dodgers is the best.
→ Use this for facts that are true right now.

2. The Past (Finished Actions)

They told the news.
Ohtani did not play.
Roberts knew about the baby.
→ Notice how 'tell' becomes 'told' and 'know' becomes 'knew'. This is for things that already happened.

3. The Future (Coming Soon)

Ohtani will play again.
→ Just add 'will' before the action word to talk about the future. It is the simplest way to predict something!

💡 Quick Pattern: Past (Told) $\rightarrow$ Present (Is) $\rightarrow$ Future (Will play)

Vocabulary Learning

gender (n.)

If a person is male or female

Example:The parents did not say the gender of the baby.

recently (adv.)

A short time ago

Example:I recently started learning English.

pitcher (n.)

The player who throws the ball in baseball

Example:The pitcher throws the ball very fast.

injuries (n.)

Damage to a part of the body

Example:The athlete has some small injuries in his leg.

league (n.)

A group of sports teams that play against each other

Example:Their team is the best in the league this year.

Shohei Ohtani Takes Paternity Leave After Birth of Second Child

大谷翔平在第二個孩子出生後請陪產假

Introduction

Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani and his wife, Mamiko Tanaka, have announced the birth of their second child. As a result, Ohtani will be away from professional games for a short time.

洛杉磯道奇隊球星大谷翔平與其妻子田中真美子宣布了他們的第二個孩子出生。因此，大谷將短暫離開職業賽場一段時間。

Main Body

The couple shared the news through a joint statement on Instagram on Saturday, June 20, 2026. This follows the birth of their first child, a daughter, in April 2025. Furthermore, the couple has kept their private life very quiet, as they did not share the newborn's name, gender, or exact birth date with the public.

這對夫婦於2026年6月20日星期六，透過Instagram發布聯合聲明分享此消息。在此之前，他們於2025年4月迎來了第一個孩子（女兒）。此外，這對夫婦對私生活非常低調，並未向公眾透露新生兒的名字、性別或確切的出生日期。

Regarding team logistics, the Los Angeles Dodgers confirmed that Ohtani missed the June 19 game against the Baltimore Orioles. Although the club described this as paternity leave, they emphasized that Ohtani was not officially placed on the MLB paternity list. Consequently, the team did not need to make any changes to the official roster. Manager Dave Roberts mentioned that he was only informed about the pregnancy recently, and the team expects Ohtani to return to the active roster during this weekend's series.

關於球隊的安排，洛杉磯道奇隊確認大谷缺席了6月19日對陣巴爾的摩金鶯隊的比賽。雖然球隊將其描述為陪產假，但他們強調大谷並未正式被列入MLB的陪產名單。因此，球隊不需要對正式陣容做出任何變動。總教練Dave Roberts提到，他直到最近才得知懷孕的消息，球隊預計大谷將在本次週末的系列賽期間重返活躍名單。

This personal news comes during a period of great professional success. Ohtani currently has a .296 batting average with 15 home runs and 42 RBIs. Additionally, his pitching stats are impressive, with a 7-2 record and a 1.47 ERA. Despite some recent physical problems, such as knee inflammation and a blister on his finger, Ohtani remains a top candidate for the National League MVP and Cy Young awards. Meanwhile, the Dodgers hold the best record in Major League Baseball at 49-27.

這則私人喜訊傳來之際，正值其職業生涯大獲成功的時期。大谷目前打擊率為 .296，有15支全壘打與42分打點。此外，他的投球數據同樣令人印象深刻，擁有7勝2敗的戰績與1.47的自責分率（ERA）。儘管近期面臨一些身體問題，如膝蓋發炎和手指水泡，但大谷依然是國家聯盟MVP與賽揚獎的頂尖候選人。與此同時，道奇隊以 49 勝 27 敗的成績，在大聯盟中排名第一。

Conclusion

Shohei Ohtani is expected to return to the Los Angeles Dodgers lineup by the end of the current weekend series.

大谷翔平預計將在本次週末系列賽結束前，重返洛杉磯道奇隊的陣容。

Vocabulary Learning

🧩 The 'Connector' Upgrade: Moving from A2 to B2

At an A2 level, students often use simple words like and, but, and so. To reach B2, you need to use Logical Connectors. These words act like bridges, making your writing and speaking sound professional and fluid rather than like a list of short sentences.

🚀 From Basic to Sophisticated

Look at how the article transforms simple ideas into B2-level English:

**Instead of "And..." $\rightarrow$ Furthermore / Additionally
- A2: They have a baby. They also kept it quiet.
- B2: "...the birth of their first child... Furthermore, the couple has kept their private life very quiet."
**Instead of "So..." $\rightarrow$ Consequently / As a result
- A2: Ohtani has a baby, so he is away from games.
- B2: "...announced the birth of their second child. As a result, Ohtani will be away..."
**Instead of "But..." $\rightarrow$ Despite
- A2: He has injuries, but he is still a top candidate.
- B2: "Despite some recent physical problems... Ohtani remains a top candidate."

💡 Pro-Tip: The 'Despite' Trap

B2 learners often struggle with Despite. Remember: Despite is followed by a noun or a -ing verb, never a full sentence with a subject and verb.

❌ Incorrect: Despite he had a blister... (This is A2-style thinking) ✅ Correct: Despite the blister on his finger... (This is B2-level precision)

🛠️ Quick Reference Map

Goal	A2 Word	B2 Alternative	Context in Text
Add info	And	Additionally	Adding pitching stats to batting stats
Show result	So	Consequently	Explaining why the roster didn't change
Show contrast	But	Meanwhile	Contrasting personal news with team success

Vocabulary Learning

joint (adj.)

Done by, shared by, or belonging to two or more people together

Example:The two companies issued a joint statement regarding the new merger.

logistics (n.)

The detailed coordination of a complex operation involving many people, facilities, or supplies

Example:The logistics of organizing a world tour for a pop star are incredibly complicated.

emphasized (v.)

To give special importance or prominence to something in speaking or writing

Example:The teacher emphasized the importance of arriving on time for the final exam.

consequently (adv.)

As a result of something that happened before

Example:He failed to study for the test; consequently, he received a low grade.

roster (n.)

A list of the people participating in a particular sport or organization

Example:The coach decided to add a new player to the team roster before the season began.

inflammation (n.)

A physical condition in which a part of the body becomes reddened, swollen, and hot, typically as a reaction to injury or infection

Example:The athlete had to rest his ankle to reduce the inflammation after the sprain.

Shohei Ohtani Commences Paternity Leave Following Birth of Second Child

大谷翔平在第二個孩子出生後開始請陪產假

Introduction

Los Angeles Dodgers athlete Shohei Ohtani and his spouse, Mamiko Tanaka, have announced the birth of their second child, resulting in Ohtani's brief absence from professional competition.

洛杉磯道著者隊球員大谷翔平及其配偶田中真子宣布了第二個孩子的出生，導致大谷將短暫缺席職業賽事。

Main Body

The announcement was disseminated via a joint statement on Instagram on Saturday, June 20, 2026. This event follows the birth of the couple's first child, a daughter, in April 2025. The couple has maintained a high degree of discretion regarding their domestic affairs, omitting the newborn's name, gender, and specific date of birth from the public record.

此消息於 2026 年 6 月 20 日（週六）透過 Instagram 的聯合聲明公布。在此之前，該夫婦於 2025 年 4 月迎來了第一個孩子（一名女兒）。夫妻兩人對家庭私事一直保持高度低調，並未在公開記錄中透露新生兒的姓名、性別及具體出生日期。

Regarding institutional logistics, the Los Angeles Dodgers organization confirmed Ohtani's absence from the June 19 matchup against the Baltimore Orioles. While the club characterized the absence as paternity leave, it was noted that Ohtani was not formally placed on the official MLB paternity list, thereby obviating the need for a corresponding roster transaction. Manager Dave Roberts indicated that the pregnancy had been disclosed to him only recently. The organization anticipates Ohtani's reintegration into the active roster during the current weekend series.

關於球隊物流安排，洛杉磯道著者隊確認大谷缺席了 6 月 19 日對陣巴爾的摩金鶯的比賽。雖然球隊將其缺席定為陪產假，但 noted 大谷並未正式被列入 MLB 官方陪產名單，因此無需進行相應的陣容交易。總教練 Dave Roberts 表示，他直到最近才得知懷孕的消息。球隊預計大谷將在本次週末系列賽期間重新回到主陣。

This personal development occurs amidst a period of significant professional productivity. Ohtani currently maintains a .296 batting average with 15 home runs and 42 RBIs. His pitching metrics include a 7-2 record with a 1.47 ERA and 78 strikeouts over 73.2 innings. Despite recent physiological challenges—specifically left knee inflammation and a digital blister on his throwing hand—Ohtani remains a primary contender for the National League MVP and Cy Young awards. The Dodgers currently hold the premier record in Major League Baseball at 49-27.

這次個人生活進展正值其職業表現的高峰期。大谷目前維持 .296 的打擊率，有 15 支全壘打及 42 分打點。投球數據方面，他在 73.2 局中取得 7 勝 2 敗，防禦率 1.47，三振 78 次。儘管近期面臨生理挑戰——特別是左膝發炎與投球手手指水泡——大谷仍是國聯 MVP 和 Cy Young 獎的主要競爭者。道著者隊目前以 49 勝 27 敗的戰績在美國職棒大聯盟中排名首位。

Conclusion

Shohei Ohtani is expected to return to the Los Angeles Dodgers lineup by the conclusion of the current weekend series.

大谷翔平預計將在本次週末系列賽結束前回到洛杉磯道著者隊的陣容中。

Vocabulary Learning

The Architecture of 'Formal Distance'

To bridge the gap from B2 to C2, a student must move beyond correctness and master register precision. The provided text is a masterclass in Clinical Detachment—the use of Latinate vocabulary and nominalization to create a professional buffer between the writer and the subject.

🧩 The Phenomenon: Lexical Elevation & Obviation

Observe the transition from common vernacular to C2-level academic precision. The text avoids 'emotional' or 'simple' verbs in favor of systemic descriptions:

Instead of "sent out," it uses $\text{disseminated}$ .
Instead of "preventing," it uses $\text{obviating}$ .
Instead of "joining back," it uses $\text{reintegration}$ .

The C2 Insight: $\text{Obviate}$ (from Latin obviare) doesn't just mean to prevent; it means to make a requirement unnecessary. In the phrase "obviating the need for a corresponding roster transaction," the writer is not describing an action, but a logical consequence of a bureaucratic state. This is a hallmark of high-level institutional English.

📉 Nominalization: Shifting from Action to Concept

B2 learners focus on agents and actions ("Ohtani is having a baby, so he is leaving"). C2 mastery involves transforming these into abstract entities to increase objectivity:

"This personal development occurs amidst a period of significant professional productivity."

Analysis:

"Personal development" $\rightarrow$ Replaces "The fact that he had a child."
"Professional productivity" $\rightarrow$ Replaces "He is playing very well."

By turning verbs into nouns, the author removes the 'human' element, transforming a life event into a data point. This is essential for legal, medical, and high-level corporate reporting.

✍️ Precision Nuance: The 'Physiological' vs. the 'Physical'

Note the choice of $\text{physiological challenges}$ over "physical injuries."

Physical: Relates to the body as a material object.
Physiological: Relates to the functions and mechanisms of the living body.

At C2, the distinction is not about meaning, but about connotation. Using physiological signals that the writer is viewing the athlete as a biological system of performance rather than just a person with a sore knee.

Vocabulary Learning

disseminated (v.)

Spread or dispersed information widely.

Example:The company disseminated the new policy guidelines to all employees via email.

discretion (n.)

The quality of behaving or speaking in such a way as to avoid causing offense or revealing private information.

Example:The diplomat handled the sensitive negotiations with great discretion.

obviating (v.)

Removing a need or difficulty; making something unnecessary.

Example:The new software update automates the backup process, thereby obviating the need for manual saves.

reintegration (n.)

The process of integrating someone or something back into a group or organization after a period of absence.

Example:The program focuses on the successful reintegration of former convicts into the workforce.

physiological (adj.)

Relating to the branch of biology that deals with the normal functions of living organisms and their parts.

Example:The athlete suffered from physiological stress due to the extreme altitude of the mountains.

Practice All words in a crossword→