Ohtani between scandal and dream with the Dodgers

Season of Major leagues in 2024 starts this thursday with someone Los Angeles Dodgers marked as favorites to win the World Cup, but also surrounded by a sports betting scandal that affects, pardon the redundancy, their main ‘bet’ to achieve that goal: the Japanese Shohei Ohtani which cost him $700 million over 10 seasons (the largest contract in sports history).

“Unicorn”, as they call him Ohtani for his unique ability to pitch and hit at the best level of the game, he also emphasized that he had never engaged in betting of any kind, not even with intermediaries. “I have never bet on baseball or any other sport, nor have I asked anyone to do so on my behalf,” he said.

Shohei Ohtani He denied that he participated in sports betting and accused his former translator, Ippei Mizuhara, He stole a million sum of money from her and lied.

“I’ve never bet on baseball or any other sport. I’ve never asked someone to do it on my behalf. I’ve never gone to a bookie to bet on sports,” Ohtani said in a statement to reporters.

Last Wednesday it turned out to be Mizuhara was fired by Los Angeles Dodgers due to press complaints about his relationship with an illegal sports betting network and debts exceeding a million dollars.

“I am very saddened and surprised that someone I trusted did this,” he said.

Mizuhara declared that he was the star of the club Dodgers He offered to pay that debt, which Ohtani refused.

“Just to review the result, in conclusion, Ippei he was stealing money from my account and telling lies,” Ohtani said.

The Japanese twice The MVP left the Los Angeles Angels signed to a record 10-year, $700 million contract with the Dodgers in December.

“I have never bet on baseball or any other sport, nor have I asked anyone to do so on my behalf, and I have never used a sportsbook to bet on sports and I have never been asked to help with bets,” he explained today during a statement in to which he did not accept questions.

The player repeated that he was not aware of this Ippei He was addicted to gambling and in debt, and the media did not inquire about that situation.

Killer of Dodgers was notified after Ippei admitted to sending money from his account to the bookmaker.

“At the time what was happening was absurd and when I was finally able to speak to my representatives, I was then able to discover that Ippei had been lying all along,” he said.

Ohtani He added that his lawyers had recommended it, since it was a robbery and fraud, They will hand over the case to the competent authorities.