Major League Baseball has initiated a formal investigation into allegations of illegal gambling and theft involving Los Angeles Dodgers standout Shohei Ohtani and his interpreter. The interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, was released from the team following reports linking him to an illegal bookmaker and claims from Ohtani's legal team that the player had been a victim of significant theft.
The Commissioner's office released a statement confirming the investigation, stating that the Department of Investigations had commenced the formal process after gathering information from media reports. The allegations surfaced while the Dodgers and Ohtani were in Seoul, South Korea, for a series against the San Diego Padres.
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) confirmed that both Mizuhara and the alleged bookmaker, Mathew Bowyer, are under criminal investigation through the agency's Los Angeles Field Office. Mizuhara, who was with the team in South Korea until his dismissal, has not been reachable for comment, and it remains unclear if he has legal representation.
MLB's Department of Investigations was established in 2008 in response to the 2007 report by former Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell on performance-enhancing drugs in baseball. The unit has previously handled high-profile cases, including the suspension of Alex Rodriguez and the investigation into Dodgers pitcher Trevor Bauer.
Ohtani, a prominent two-way player, has not issued any statements regarding the allegations. The Dodgers are scheduled to resume their season with a home opener next week, while exhibition games against the Los Angeles Angels are planned in the interim.
The MLB gambling policy strictly prohibits players and team personnel from wagering on baseball, as well as other sports with illegal or offshore bookmakers. Mizuhara admitted to betting on international soccer, the NBA, the NFL, and college football but denied placing bets on baseball.
ESPN reported that Mizuhara claimed Ohtani had settled his gambling debts, which exceeded $1 million, at his request. However, following statements from Ohtani's attorneys asserting that the player was a victim of theft, Mizuhara altered his story, stating that Ohtani was unaware of the debts and had not transferred any money to bookmakers.
This incident marks a significant gambling scandal in baseball since Pete Rose's lifetime ban in 1989 for betting on games while playing for and managing the Cincinnati Reds. MLB's strict policies on gambling violations include severe penalties such as suspensions and bans from the sport.
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