Shohei Ohtani Denies Knowledge of Interpreter’s Gambling
Shohei Ohtani, the two-way player and Major League Baseball’s top international attraction, denied on Monday he’d ever bet on baseball or any other sport. He is entangled in an investigation of his former interpreter by the feds and the sport for allegedly illegally gambling on sporting events.
Ohtani, who had right elbow surgery and won’t pitch this season, addressed the issue during a media conference Monday at Dodger Stadium prior to a Freeway Series exhibition game against the Los Angeles Angels, his former team.
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“I have never bet on baseball or on any other sports,” Ohtani said. “I have never asked anyone to do so on my behalf. I’ve never been to a bookmaker to bet on sports.”
In his first words about the controversy Ohtani said that his interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, had stolen money from him.
“I was shocked,” Ohtani added. “Up to a couple of days ago I didn’t even know this was happening. Ippei has been stealing money from my account and has told lies.”
The news about Ohtani came to light last week when the Los Angeles Dodgers split a two-game series against the San Diego Padres in Seoul, South Korea. Ohtani played his first six seasons with the Angels, where he teamed with friend Mizuhara.
Ohtani signed a 10-year, $700 million contract with the Dodgers this past December and Mizuhara went with him.
Mizuhara was fired by the Dodgers in between games in South Korea after reports from the Los Angeles Times and ESPN about his alleged ties to an illegal California bookmaker.
ESPN interviewed Mizuhara Tuesday, and the interpreter said his gambling losses ballooned past $1 million and that Ohtani paid his gambling debts. After the statement from Ohtani’s attorneys that the interpreter stole money from Ohtani to make the bets, Mizuhara backtracked on his story and claimed Ohtani had no knowledge of the gambling debts and did not transfer money to bookmakers. Mizuhara said he didn’t bet on baseball.
California is a state where gambling on sports is still illegal. MLB players and employees are allowed to legally bet on sports, but baseball bets are a different story. Gambling on a game where a player is not involved would incur a one-year suspension, while a bet on a game they are involved in results in a permanent suspension.
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