Major League Baseball is facing a possible new gambling controversy.
Months after Shohei Ohtani’s longtime interpreter was indicted on charges of stealing $16 million from the Dodgers superstar to pay off sports betting debts, MLB is investigating injured Padres infielder Tucupita Marcano for allegedly violating baseball betting rules and could face a lifetime ban, reports said Monday. The Wall Street Journal.
Marcano, 24, is accused of betting on games involving his former team, the Pirates, while he was on the injured list with Pittsburgh last season. The Venezuelan native was acquired by the Padres on waivers during the offseason but has not played since July of last year due to a torn anterior cruciate ligament.
Four other players also reportedly face disciplinary action for gambling on baseball while in the minor leagues.
Marcano, through his representative, declined to comment when contacted by The Wall Street Journal, and MLB and the MLB Players Association also declined to comment.
“We are aware of an ongoing investigation by Major League Baseball regarding an issue that occurred while the player in question was with a different organization unrelated to the San Diego Padres,” the Padres said in a statement. “We will not be making any further comment until that investigation has been completed.”
In April, the NBA suspended Raptors forward Jontay Porter for violating the league’s gambling policy, specifically by providing inside information to gamblers and limiting his own playing time for gambling purposes.
After Ohtani’s former interpreter, Mizuhara Ippei, agreed to plead guilty last month, MLB was reportedly also investigating Angels infielder David Fletcher, Ohtani’s former teammate, for allegedly placing sports bets with the same illegal bookmaker.
Pete Rose played for and managed the Reds from 1985-1987 and was banned for life in 1989 after it was discovered he had bet on the team to win.
