MLB opens investigation into betting case involving Shohei Ohtani and his translator

The Major League Baseball (MLB) reported that it had launched an investigation into the illegal betting scandal involving the Japanese star Shohei Ohtani and his interpreter Ippei Mizuhara.

“The MLB has been collecting information since we became aware of the allegations involving Shohei Ohtani and Ippei Mizuhara in the media. “Earlier today, our Department of Investigations began a formal investigative process,” Major League Baseball said in a statement.

Since last Wednesday, when information appeared that Mizuharwas fired by Los Angeles Dodgers because of his relationship with an illegal sportsbook, which led him to incur a debt of more than $4.5 million, which the translator said Ohtani offered to pay, the speculation about this continues.

This situation also forced Dodgers to officially address this delicate issue that struck them at the beginning of the season for the first time.

“The Dodgers They are familiar with media articles and collect information. The team can confirm that performer Ippei Mizuhara has been fired. The team has no further comments at this time,” the team said in a statement. Angels.

Despite the claims of MIzuhara, that the Dodger star made the payments via transfers from his computer, because he didn’t believe they would give him the money because he was afraid he would bet on him, the legal team Ohtani expressed that his client was the victim of what they defined as a “mass robbery.”

“He decided to pay for it for me. Apparently, Shohei wasn’t happy with that and said he would help me never do this again,” he said. Mizuhara in statements collected by ESPN at the time.

Given this situation, the translator, who followed Most Valuable Player throughout his career in the Major Leagues and joined by a friendship that began in 2013, specified that Ohtani had nothing to do with the illegal betting he had done since 2021.

“I want everyone to know that Shohei was not involved in betting. I learned my lesson the hard way. I will never bet on sports again,” he said. Mizuhara.

The situation caused a reaction MLB, which prohibits players, umpires and employees from betting on baseball or engaging in illegal betting, which carries a penalty that can only be determined by the commissioner of Major League Baseball, according to regulations.

Apart from the risk he faces Ohtani as a player, if his participation in bets of this type is proven, MLB And he is in an awkward situation, since the Japanese is currently the main figure in baseball and the situation represents a setback for the image of the game.