Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani says he is « very sad and shocked » over the gambling allegations against his former interpreter Ippei Mizuhara during a news conference Monday afternoon.
Los Angeles Dodgers star addressed the media on Monday afternoon for the first time since the team fired his interpreter Ippei Mizuhara amid gambling allegations.
« I am very sad and shocked that someone who I trusted has done this, » Ohtani said through an interpreter.
He vehemently denied agreeing to pay off Mizuhara’s gambling debt and betting on baseball or any other sports.
« I never bet on baseball or any sports or never have asked somebody to do it on my behalf, » Ohtani said. « I have never went through a bookmaker to bet on sports. »
opened a formal investigation after the Dodgers fired Mizuhara amid the allegations. The interpreter is accused of stealing at least $4.5 million from Ohtani’s personal bank account. Mizuhara had worked as Ohtani’s interpreter since 2017, before Ohtani joined the Los Angeles Angels, his first team in the MLB. Mizuhara’s relationship with the two-way star has been well documented during Ohtani’s tenure with the Angels, with whom he played for six seasons before signing a with the Dodgers.
