The studio lights were bright, microphones live, and laughter abundant. What started as an in-depth discussion about a tumultuous offseason quickly transformed into an unexpected masterclass on fatherhood. Leading this heartfelt conversation were none other than Mookie Betts and Teoscar Hernández—two seasoned athletes well-acquainted with high-stakes scenarios and the relentless challenges of sleepless nights.

Hand a microphone to Mookie Betts and Teoscar Hernández, and ask them for parenting tips? You’re bound to receive unfiltered honesty—the kind rarely found in baby blogs. During an episode of the On Base with Mookie Betts podcast, Betts offered Shohei Ohtani a candid piece of advice for new dads. He said, “you should just go and accept that you are not going to sleep for the next 10 years… Instead of trying to sleep, just accept that you are not going to. And just get up — whatever time it is“.

That is the Betts way. The Dodgers star, a three-time World Series champion, is a girl dad himself. However, he was not playing professor. He was playing teammate and delivering Ohtani the same unfiltered honesty that helped him through October baseball. The Dodgers is full of All-Stars, however, that night, it sounded like a circle of dads swapping survival approaches.

The message was not just practical — it was totally personal.

Betts did not provide advice just to be funny. His advice came with context. He talked about how overthinking makes it worse. “If you think about it, it is going to get worse“, the star said. The takeaway? Stop overanalyzing and just do the daily activities. Whether it is waking up for a bottle and delivering in the ninth inning, the approach stays the same. Action over anxiety.

From there, the interaction rolled into legacy — seamlessly.

Ohtani’s daughter came up. The teammates could not help but wonder out loud and said: “her mom played basketball and her dad is showtime… I wonder what kind of athlete she is going to be“? The admiration was real — and so was the expectation. However, it was not about pressure. It was related to pride. The same way they highlighted the Dodgers’ NL West dominance and repping the team under the spotlight, Betts leaned into fatherhood as something bigger than the game.

Teoscar, sitting beside him, added a layer of depth. As someone who nearly walked away from baseball back in 2011, Hernández now finds meaning in both the uniform and the family foundation beneath it. This wasn’t just a Dodgers PR moment — it was lived experience.

The real punchline? Even superheroes like Ohtani need a reminder that being a dad might be the only job tougher than facing 100 mph heat. And luckily, he’s got teammates who won’t let him sugarcoat it.

Dave Roberts thinks fatherhood will unlock a new aspect for Ohtani

When Ohtani returned to the Dodgers lineup after becoming a father, he did more than just reclaim his spot — he arrived with what Dave Roberts calls a hidden weapon: dad strength. It is not a number you can track and a capability you can drill. However, it is something Roberts swears by. “Dad strength is real”, he said. He beamed with trust that fatherhood could take the Japanese legend to a level higher than MVP-caliber.

In addition, Roberts does not utilize clichés. He has watched stars transform after vital life milestones — locking in with new purpose, handling anxiety with more calm. With Ohtani now stepping into this next chapter, he thinks that clarity and grounding will elevate every at-bat and every inning. “He is going to be better for it”, Roberts added. In a team full of big personalities, Ohtani now brings not just skill, but legacy.

Ohtani is also very excited for his new beginning. His appreciation for his wife, Mamiko Tanaka, was evident in his public statements. He shared his gratitude, saying, “I am so grateful to my loving wife who gave birth to our healthy, beautiful daughter“. Such an acknowledgment not only highlights his personal joy but, also underscores the support system that enables him to excel professionally.

Ohtani’s journey into fatherhood marks a vital milestone, not just personally, however, also professionally. With the backing of his family and the team, fans can look forward to witnessing how this new role as a father adds depth and power to his already impressive career. Stay tuned for what promises to be an exciting season ahead.