LOS ANGELES., Dominican Republic.─ Shohei Ohtani took a seat in the press room at Dodger Stadium. He adjusted his cap and opened a document containing some of the notes he wished to convey.
For the first time since Major League Baseball announced an investigation into gambling allegations against Ippei Mizuhara, Ohtani’s performer and close confidant, the Dodgers star spoke out about the situation himself.
In the 12-minute press conference, in which Ohtani only spoke through his interpreter Will Ireton and did not accept questions from the more than 70 reporters present, the two-time American League Most Valuable Player unanimously He said he has never bet on baseball or any other sport and has never made payments to an illegal betting house.
“I have never bet on baseball or any other sport, nor have I ever asked anyone to do so on my behalf, and I have never used a sports book to bet on sports and have never been asked to help with betting,” Ohtani said. . “Until a few days ago, I didn’t know this was happening. In conclusion, Ippei has been stealing money from my account and telling lies.”
The first reports about the betting allegations came to light last Wednesday morning in South Korea while the Dodgers were in the middle of their opening two-game series against the Padres.
Before the first clash in Seoul, Mizuhara spoke to ESPN and told them that Ohtani had transferred money to an illegal betting house to cover his debt, which reportedly amounted to US$4.5 million. Mizuhara later changed his story, telling ESPN that Ohtani had no knowledge of his debt and had not sent money to the bookmaker.
Ohtani remembers that before the opening game against the Padres on Wednesday, Mizuhara approached him and asked to talk to him after the game.
“Ippei told me, ‘Let’s talk one-on-one at the hotel after the meeting,’ so I waited until then,” Ohtani stated.
Mizuhara spoke with the Dodgers inside the clubhouse after the club’s victory that night, and during that talk, Ohtani said he was confused, and explained that it was the first time he had heard about Mizuhara’s gambling debts or his statements about He had provided him with the money to cover his debts.
“It was at that meeting that I found out,” Ohtani said. “I wasn’t even aware that Ippei had a gambling addiction and that he had a debt. “I never agreed to pay that debt or transfer money to the betting house.”
Once Ohtani and Mizuhara returned to the team hotel, Ohtani said, friends and confidants sat down to discuss the situation. Although Ohtani did not give specific details about the conversation, it ended with the understanding that Mizuhara had stolen money from her bank account.
“When we got back to the hotel and talked one on one, that’s when I found out I was in massive debt,” Ohtani stressed. “It was during that talk that I found out everything, Ippei admitted that he was sending money, using my bank account, to the betting house.”
Ohtani did not discuss how Mizuhara had access to his bank account or why the former performer initially claimed that Ohtani agreed to lend him money to pay the betting house, although he did say that Mizuhara “never revealed to me” that he was being investigated by the media. communication. He also acknowledged that his talk with Mizuhara at the hotel forced him to contact his representatives to ask about the potential theft.
“When I was finally able to talk to my representatives, that’s when my representatives found out that Ippei had been lying the whole time and I started contacting the Dodgers and my lawyers,” Ohtani said. “And the Dodgers and the lawyers discovered for themselves that Ippei had been lying. “My lawyers recommended that since this is a fraud, we let the competent authorities handle the case.”
In the end, Ohtani wanted to reiterate that he never placed bets, especially not on baseball. That, of course, is an important clarification.
Major League Baseball Rule 21(d)(3) states: “Any player, umpire, or official or employee of the Club or the League who places bets with illegal bookmakers, or agents of illegal bookmakers, shall be subject to to the sanction that the Commissioner considers appropriate in light of the facts and circumstances of the conduct.”
In 2015, Marlins pitcher Jarred Cosart was fined and not suspended by Major League Baseball for violating Rule 21(d)(3), although the league later determined that Cosart had not bet on baseball.
“I am very surprised. “It is very difficult for me to verbalize how I feel right now,” Ohtani lamented. “I’m going to let my lawyers handle this case from here. I will focus on the season only. … I am sure that the corresponding investigations will be carried out.”
Major League Baseball announced Friday that the league has launched an investigation into the case.
Juan Toribio/MLB.com
2024-03-26 16:27:37
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