Ap
La Jornada Newspaper
Martes March 26, 2024, p. a10
Los Angeles: Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani said he has never bet on sports and that his interpreter Ippei Mizuhara stole money from him and lied to him.
Ohtani gave a conference yesterday at Dodger Stadium, five days after Mizuhara was fired by the Californian team following reports of Los Angeles Times and from ESPN about his alleged ties to an illegal gambler and having debts exceeding a million dollars.
“I’m very sad and surprised that someone I trusted did this,” the Japanese star said while sitting next to Will Ireton, the team’s performance operations manager, who translated his words.
Ohtani spoke for about 12 minutes and referenced a document he had in front of him. He did not accept questions.
“Ippei has been stealing money from my account and telling lies,” Ohtani claimed.
Ohtani, a two-time MVP, left the Los Angeles Angels in December to sign a record 10-year, $700 million contract with the Dodgers.
I never bet on baseball or any other sport, nor did I ask anyone to do so on my behalf, nor did I go to a sports betting house and they did not ask me to help with the bets, said the Japanese.
Mizuhara was fired last week by the Dodgers as the team opened the season with a two-game series against the San Diego Padres in Seoul, South Korea.
Major League Baseball began an investigation into the case. The U.S. Internal Revenue Service confirmed that Mizuhara and Mathew Bowyer, the alleged illegal gambler from Orange County, California, are under criminal investigation.
Mizuhara confirmed to ESPN that his gambling debt exceeded $1 million and that Ohtani initially paid it at his request. He later changed his story and told the same network that Ohtani did not know about his debt and that he had not sent money to the gambler.
Ap has not been able to reach Mizuhara to discuss the matter, nor is it clear if he has an attorney. He was with the team in Korea until he was fired and it is not known if he left the country.
Will Ireton took over Ohtani’s translator duties.
2024-03-26 09:00:46
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