Watch: Shohei Ohtani's sweet response to favorite athlete question melts hearts

Japanese two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani recently gave a heartwarming answer that resonated with people all over baseball. A video was uploaded on X/Twitter where every Los Angeles Dodgers player was asked to name their favorite athlete.

When it was Ohtani’s turn, he replied:

"My wife."

This response came after the news went viral back in February when Ohtani revealed his marriage to the world, though back then her name was still undisclosed. After the news about his transfer to the Dodgers had settled, Ohtani declared that he had begun a new life with someone from his country.

It was later revealed that his wife is Mamiko Tanaka, an accomplished athlete in her own right. The 27-year-old is a former professional basketball player who played with the Fujitsu Red Wave in the Women’s Japan Basketball League until 2023.

Some highlights from Tanaka’s career include representing Japan in international youth and collegiate competitions and being a key player for her team, especially with her offensive rebounding and play-making skills.

Tanaka, who was born in Tokyo, first played basketball at Hino Daiichi Junior High School. She kept playing through college and eventually made it to professional basketball, quickly making a name for herself with the Fujitsu Red Wave.

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Shohei Ohtani recently hit a massive 471-foot home run

Shohei Ohtani recently hit a massive 473-foot home run, the second longest since the Stacast era at Dodgers Stadium (Image Credit: IMAGN)

Shohei Ohtani continues to amaze fans and teammates on the field. On Sunday, Ohtani hit a massive 473-foot home run during a game against the Boston Red Sox, the second-longest home run recorded at Dodgers Stadium since the Statcast era began in 2015.

This spectacular feat also marked Ohtani’s 30th homer of the season, further solidifying his status as a legend in the making. The Dodgers went on to win the game 9-6 and sweep Boston in their three-game series.

Ohtani and Co.'s next assignment is a four-game series at Dodger Stadium against the San Francisco Giants. LA continued its winning streak by taking the opening game on Monday 3-2. The win helped the Dodgers to a (60-41) record for the season so far, putting them atop the NL West standings.

The second game takes place on Tuesday night.