The brewing scandal hit this week as Ohtani and the Dodgers faced the San Diego Padres in Seoul for a series to open the season.
MLB began a formal investigation Friday of gambling allegations surrounding Ippei Mizuhara, the longtime interpreter of Shohei Ohtani, who was fired by the Los Angeles Dodgers this week amid conflicting stories about money paid for gambling debts.
Commissioner Rob Manfred’s office said in a statement that the league had begun its formal process through its investigations department. “Major League Baseball has been gathering information since we learned about the allegations,” from news reports, the statement said.
This chaotic story first became public on Wednesday evening, as Ohtani and the Dodgers – along with Mizuhara – were in Seoul for a series against the San Diego Padres to open the season.
ESPN reported that Ohtani’s lawyers alleged he was the victim of a “massive theft,” but only after both Mizuhara and a spokesperson for Ohtani initially claimed that Ohtani willingly paid off gambling losses of at least $4.5 million for Mizuhara.
Ohtani has not been accused of placing bets. A person briefed on the situation, speaking on condition of anonymity, told The Athletic on Friday that Ohtani was not being placed on leave given the circumstances as known when the investigation was launched.
Mizuhara, according to ESPN, said that he got in over his head and asked Ohtani for help paying off his debts, then worked with Ohtani to wire money to a bookmaker who had allowed the wagers to be placed on credit. But soon after Mizuhara spoke with ESPN, a spokesman for Ohtani recanted the account and said that Ohtani had not been aware of Mizuhara’s gambling activity.
