Shohei Ohtani celebrated his 31st birthday without bright lights, loud music, or lavish gifts from his teammates. Instead, the Los Angeles Dodgers star turned his special day into a journey to bring hope to those less fortunate.

Ohtani, along with his wife, who has always been a quiet companion behind the scenes, decided not to celebrate his birthday. Instead, they donated all of his prize money, as well as gifts from fans and teammates (estimated at more than $500,000), to organizations helping homeless children in Los Angeles and Tokyo.

“I asked him what he wanted for his birthday,” Ohtani’s wife recalled, “and he simply said, ‘You have everything… Give other kids the chance to dream like you.’”

The couple visited a children’s shelter in East Los Angeles, where they handed out gifts, chatted, and even played baseball with the children. Ohtani wore no sunglasses, no shirt, no cameras, and no reporters; just a man, crouching down at child-level, offered them a warm smile and a hug.

A 9-year-old boy living in a car with his mother hugged Ohtani tightly and whispered, “I thought people like you only existed on TV.” Tears streamed down the legendary pitcher’s face.

After the charity event, Ohtani only shared one thing with the media:
“Birthdays aren’t about receiving. They’re about remembering that you’re lucky enough to be able to give.”