“Dodgers Manager Dave Roberts Celebrates His Twins’ Birthday, Which He Adopted 20 Years Ago”:
Los Angeles, CA – April 23, 2025 — Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts is known for his poise in the dugout and his keen sense for the game. But off the field, his proudest title isn’t manager — it’s “dad.” This week, Roberts celebrated a personal milestone as his twin children, Emiko and Cole, turned 20 years old — a birthday that holds extra special meaning for the longtime Dodgers skipper and his family.
Roberts and his wife Tricia adopted the twins in 2005, when they were just newborns. At the time, Roberts was transitioning out of his MLB playing career, uncertain about what came next professionally, but absolutely certain about one thing: he wanted to be a father.
“This day is always emotional for us,” Roberts told reporters on Tuesday before the Dodgers’ game against the Nationals. “Adoption changed our lives. Emiko and Cole made me a dad. Twenty years later, they still teach me something new every day.”
The Roberts family kept the celebration low-key but meaningful. With the Dodgers on a homestand, the twins flew in from college — Emiko is a junior at Stanford studying environmental policy, while Cole is at UCLA majoring in film. They spent the day together in Malibu, walking the beach, enjoying sushi, and reminiscing about their journey as a family.
“It’s crazy to think it’s been two decades,” said Tricia Roberts. “We remember the day we brought them home like it was yesterday. There was a lot of love, a lot of nerves, but from the start, it just felt right.”
While Roberts has built a championship-caliber résumé in Los Angeles — including guiding the team to a World Series title in 2020 — those who know him say his greatest strength is the same off the field as it is on it: his heart.
“Dave has always been a man of integrity and compassion,” said Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman. “You can tell how much his family means to him. The way he talks about his kids — you see the pride in his eyes.”
In recent years, Roberts has become an advocate for adoption awareness, often using his platform to support families navigating the adoption process. He and Tricia have spoken at several charity events and even funded a scholarship for adopted students pursuing higher education.
“Not everyone’s path to parenthood is the same,” Roberts said. “And for anyone considering adoption, I just say: there’s so much beauty in it. It gave me the chance to love and be loved in a way that changed everything.”
As for the twins, both have expressed gratitude for their parents’ unwavering love and support.
“Our parents gave us a life full of opportunity and encouragement,” Emiko shared in a social media post. “They always made us feel like we belonged, like we were chosen — and that’s really powerful.”
With the Dodgers pushing for another postseason run, Roberts’ plate remains full. But moments like this remind him of what matters most.
“At the end of the day, baseball is what I do,” he said. “Being a dad — that’s who I am.”
