MLB on Friday announced a formal investigation into the scandal swirling around Shohei Ohtani and his former interpreter amid charges that the Los Angeles Dodgers superstar was the victim of “massive theft.”
The Dodgers on Wednesday fired Ippei Mizuhara, Ohtani’s long-time interpreter and close friend, after Ohtani’s representatives alleged that the Japanese two-way star had been the victim of theft, which was reported to involve millions of dollars and link Mizuhara to a suspected illegal bookmaker in California.
“Major League Baseball has been gathering information since we learned about the allegations involving Shohei Ohtani and Ippei Mizuhara from the news media,” MLB said in a statement. “Earlier today, our Department of Investigations began their formal process investigating the matter.”
Photo: Kim Klement Neitzel-USA Today
ESPN reported that MLB is expected to request interviews with all parties, including Ohtani and Mizuhara, although officials cannot compel Mizuhara’s cooperation because he no longer works in the major leagues.
The murky affair emerged this week when West Hollywood law firm Berk and Brettler issued a statement on behalf of Ohtani after receiving media inquiries about a reported federal investigation into alleged illegal bookmaker Mathew Bowyer in which Ohtani’s name surfaced.
“In the course of responding to recent media inquiries, we discovered that Shohei has been the victim of a massive theft and we are turning the matter over to the authorities,” the law firm said.
ESPN reported that questions had arisen around “at least [US]$4.5 million in wire transfers sent from Ohtani’s bank account” to an associate for Bowyer.
ESPN said that multiple sources, including Mizuhara himself, told the media firm that Ohtani does not gamble and that the funds covered Mizuhara’s losses.
Bowyer’s lawyer, Diane Bass, told the Los Angeles Times that Bowyer had never had any contact with Ohtani.
MLB’s gambling policy bars “any player, umpire, or club or league official or employee” from betting on baseball or making illegal bets on any other sport.
While sports betting has been legalized in a majority of US states, online betting and retail sports books remain illegal in California.
Ohtani himself has yet to comment on the affair, which has sparked intense speculation around MLB as the new season gets under way.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts had said that it was “business as normal” for his team, but their new superstar will be under scrutiny as they prepare for their home opener against the St Louis Cardinals on Thursday.
While lawyers for Ohtani said that he had been the victim of theft, ESPN reported that before the allegation was made, Mizuhara completed an interview in which he claimed Ohtani had actually paid off his gambling debts of at least US$4.5 million.
However, before the interview was published, Mizuhara altered his story and said Ohtani had no knowledge of his gambling debts and did not transfer the money from his accounts himself.
CNN on Friday reported that the US Internal Revenue Service is involved in an investigation involving Bowyer and Mizuhara.
Mizuhara, who was born in Japan, but brought up in Southern California, became Ohtani’s personal interpreter when he signed with the Angels in 2017 and followed him to the Dodgers.
In other news, top prospect Jackson Holliday will not open the season with the Baltimore Orioles.
The team on Friday reassigned the No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 draft to minor league camp.
The 20-year-old middle infielder batted .311 with seven extra-base hits and six RBIs in 15 games in spring training.
Holliday, the son of seven-time All-Star Matt Holliday, is ranked as the No. 1 overall prospect by MLB Pipeline and was projected by many to be Baltimore’s opening day second baseman.
The Orioles are to open the season on Thursday against the visiting Los Angeles Angels.
Jordan Westburg is the likely starter at second base.
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