Shohei Ohtani's Parents Were Also Involved in Sports – Facts about Them

Shohei Ohtani was born to parents who saw their athletic talents take them all the way to the Industrial Level of sports in Japan. The couple has since supported their son's career, with Shohei Ohtani's father teaching him everything he knows about baseball.

Shohei Ohtani's parents proved their son isn't the only sportsman in the family, as they both have pasts playing league sports. While his mother's height made her a lethal badminton player, Shohei Ohtani's father was a skillful baseball player.

However, Shohei Ohtani's dad eventually traded in playing baseball for coaching it. And under his dad's guidance, Shohei Ohtani became a star in Japan after the Los Angeles Angels signed him.

Shohei Ohtani Still Can't Beat His Mother at Badminton

While Shohei's father, Toru, played as an outfielder for a corporate-sponsored nonprofessional baseball team, his wife, Kayoko, played badminton for the badminton team of the same company. However, before that, Toru played semi-professional baseball but began to work full-time after suffering a shoulder injury when he was 25.

When their son was asked who was the better athlete between his parents, the baseball star revealed it was his mother, adding, "I can't beat her at badminton to this day. [...] She's tall, and she's been playing for a long time."

According to reports, Shohei asked his parents to manage his money, including his multi-million dollar salary.

How Shohei Ohtani's Parents Raised Him

Toru and his wife welcomed their famous son on July 5, 1994, in a small town in North Japan. According to the baseball star's dad, Shohei's parents gave him an "earnest" upbringing where they did not follow a particular form. Shohei's father shared:

"I wasn't particularly tough in his upbringing. It was very ordinary, really just ordinary."

Shohei is the youngest of three children, and Toru revealed one of his regrets is not spending more time with his eldest son. As a result, the father he is today is the father he never got to be for his eldest son.

In 2018, Toru and his wife were photographed in the stands at the Angel's season-opening game against the Oakland Athletics. A few years later, a throwback picture of Shohei and his mother was displayed on the big screen during a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers as they wished her a Happy Mother's Day on May 9, 2021.

Shohei Ohtani Was Coached by His Father

When Toru was not working, he volunteered to coach his son's summer baseball team, teaching Shohei Ohtani everything he knew about the sport, including how to hit the ball. "I only played on weekends, and I looked forward to weekends," Shohei revealed.

Toru would practice drills with his son, improving his game regarding hitting and pitching, as he and his wife agreed that there was no need for their son to specialize. On the other hand, his mother handles his finances.

According to reports, Shohei asked his parents to manage his money, including his multi-million dollar salary. In an attempt to teach her son about financial responsibility, Kayoko deposits $1,000 into her son's account, but he reportedly barely touches it.