Major League Baseball has opened an investigation into allegations involving Shohei Ohtani and his interpreter Ippei Mizuhara.
This is what the major leagues announced on Friday, two days after the Los Angeles Dodgers fired the man who had been translating the star player’s comments since his arrival in North America in 2018.
• Read also: Allegations of theft of millions of dollars: the interpreter of Shohei Ohtani fired
• Read also: Ohtani’s interest: proof that Toronto is popular
ESPN has learned that Mizuhara is suspected of stealing $4.5 million from Ohtani to pay off his debts to an illegal California bookmaker.
Initially, a representative of the athlete who recently signed a 10-year, $700 million contract with the Dodgers told the American network that the Japanese player had transferred the funds to cover his friend’s debt. The spokesperson, however, disavowed this account a day later, instead saying it was a theft. This entire matter is the subject of a federal investigation.
Mizuhara, 39, made the jump to the United States to be Ohtani’s interpreter when the latter joined the Los Angeles Angels. The two men are considered inseparable.
At this time, Ohtani has not commented publicly on the matter. Players and employees of major league baseball teams are allowed to bet on sports other than baseball, but are not allowed to do so with illegal bookmakers. Mizuhara told ESPN that he never placed bets on baseball games and that Ohtani had no involvement in his illicit activities.
2024-03-22 22:57:30
#Major #League #Baseball #investigates #Ohtani #interpreter
