MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred expects the league’s investigation into Shohei Ohtani and former Los Angeles Dodgers interpreter Ippei Mizuhara to proceed quickly.
As MLB begins the 2024 season, the biggest storyline heading into the season is last week’s shocking events. Otani claims Mizuhara stole $4.5 million from him to cover gambling debts.
Ohtani issued a statement this week saying he has never bet on baseball or any other sports and had no idea what Mizuhara was doing until last week’s Seoul Series exhibition game against the San Diego Padres in South Korea.
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Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani before a spring training game against the Los Angeles Angels on March 24, 2024 in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
“Given the way the story has unfolded, it’s important to verify Mr. Ohtani’s statements in terms of ensuring the integrity of the game to our fans, and that’s a no-brainer,” Manfred told MLB Network. Told.
MLB and I.R.S. We have launched our own investigation into this issue. The IRS confirmed that Mizuhara and Matthew Bowyer, an Orange County, Calif., man suspected of being an illegal bookmaker to whom Mizuhara owed money, are both under criminal investigation.
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“It’s very difficult for federal authorities to fully cooperate with us when they’re conducting their own investigation, so I think this is an issue that we have to proceed on our own,” Manfred said. Ta.
“Although we never have the powers that law enforcement has, we have been able to investigate and uncover the facts, and I am confident that we will do so in this case.”
Shohei Ohtani and Ippei Mizuhara of the Los Angeles Dodgers hold a press conference at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on December 14, 2023. (Rob Reiter/MLB Photo via Getty Images)
Manfred said he hoped the investigation would be completed “in a short period of time.”
Legalized sports gambling is controversial, especially since professional leagues like MLB partner with sportsbooks to promote it.
“Sports betting will continue in the United States, regardless of its relationship with any particular company or gambling company,” Manfred explained. “I don’t think it’s unusual for there to be a set of rules that apply to fans, executives, civilians, on the one hand, and players and those who have the ability to influence the outcome of play on the field, on the other hand. ”
Mizuhara initially said Ohtani was helping a friend pay off his debt, but Ohtani’s lawyer quickly retracted that statement. Instead, they said Ohtani was the victim of “massive theft.”
Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred speaks to the media before the game between the Milwaukee Brewers and the San Francisco Giants at American Family Field in Milwaukee on May 25, 2023. (Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
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Ohtani remains on the Dodgers’ opening day roster while the investigation continues. He went 2-for-3 with one walk and one RBI in the team’s opening day win over the St. Louis Cardinals.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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