Shohei Ohtani, the Dodgers’ superstar, really kicked things off with a bang in the 2024 season. Imagine, on day one, he’s 2 for 5 against the Padres. And that’s in Seoul, South Korea, folks. Yes, you heard it right. But then, bam! Scandal hits before the ink is dry on Game 2’s lineup card.
It’s all about Ohtani’s interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara. The guy’s accused of swiping millions from Ohtani. Why? To cover his gambling debts. Can you believe it? “We’re talking massive theft here,” says a spokesperson from Berk Brettler law firm to CBS Sports. And just like that, the plot thickens.
Mizuhara’s story? It’s flip-flopping more than a fish out of water. First, he tells ESPN, “Oh, Ohtani knew.” Then, it’s “Oops, maybe he didn’t.” And get this – he admits to his gambling problem right in the Dodgers’ clubhouse. Hours later, he’s out of a job. The Dodgers, meanwhile, are tight-lipped but confirm Mizuhara’s firing.
Now, nobody’s saying Ohtani was in on the bets. But questions, they’re swirling. CBS Sports even roped in a legal expert to weigh in.
Could Ohtani face legal trouble?
This whole mess ties back to a bookie named Mathew Bowyer. The feds are on him like white on rice, raiding his place last year. His lawyer’s playing it cool, saying, “Nope, no Ohtani contact here.” But the feds? They’re digging into a gambling ring that’s even got Yasiel Puig’s name in the mix.
The Department of Justice? Mum’s the word from them. As for Ohtani’s part in this drama, it’s all about what Mizuhara’s true story is. I. Nelson Rose, a big shot in gambling law, tells CBS Sports it’s a legal minefield. If Ohtani did hand over cash for Mizuhara’s debts, knowingly or not, it’s bad news. “He’s helping the bookie collect,” says Rose. And that’s a no-go in the legal world.
Rose is baffled why everyone’s talking so much. “Just shut up,” he advises. Sage advice, perhaps too late.
What do the MLB rules say?
MLB’s stance on gambling is crystal clear. No bets on baseball if you’re in the biz. But other sports? Fair game, as long as it’s all above board. Get caught with your hand in the illegal bookie jar, though, and you’re riding the pine for at least a year. Mizuhara, for his part, swears he never bet on baseball. His vice? International soccer, NBA, NFL, and college football. After spilling his guts to the team about his gambling woes, the spotlight’s now on Ohtani.
But here’s the kicker – MLB isn’t swinging the disciplinary bat at Ohtani. Not yet, anyway. They’re watching, waiting, and gathering the facts. And as for the investigation? MLB was the last to know, finding out when the rest of us did.
So, there you have it. A superstar’s season starts with a bang, only to hit a scandalous snag. Only time will tell how this one plays out.
