Last week, it was revealed that the Los Angeles Dodgers had fired Shohei Ohtani’s interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, for allegedly stealing $4.5 million from the star’s account to pay a bookmaker.
For the first time since the allegations and the firing, Ohtani spoke to the media.
He didn’t field questions on Monday, but read a statement about the situation.
People had speculated that Ippei was somehow covering for Ohtani and that the star player had engaged in illegal betting.
Ohtani, however, shut down those rumors and instead placed all the blame on Ippei.
“Shohei Ohtani says he has never bet on sports or asked anyone to do it on his behalf. He says ‘Ippei has been stealing money from my account and telling lies. I’m very saddened and shocked that someone who I trusted has done this.’ Wow,” Joe Pompliano tweeted.
Shohei Ohtani says he has never bet on sports or asked anyone to do it on his behalf.
He says “Ippei has been stealing money from my account and telling lies.”
“I’m very saddened and shocked that someone who I trusted has done this.”
Wow.
— Joe Pompliano (@JoePompliano) March 25, 2024
More than just an interpreter, Ippei was considered a friend by Ohtani.
Still, many people can’t wrap their heads around the fact that he not only had access to Ohtani’s banking details, but he actually took $4.5 million without the player noticing.
Ippei might face legal consequences for his actions, but the league already opened an investigation about the whole situation, including Ohtani’s potential involvement.
Sports betting is illegal in the state of California, and it goes without saying that betting wouldn’t be the best idea for a professional player of Ohtani’s relevance and caliber.
He maintains he hasn’t been involved in the activity, though.
Ohtani signed a $700 million deal with the Dodgers in the offseason.
The world of baseball is still in awe of what Ippei allegedly did.
Only time (and the authorities) will tell if there is more to the story.
The post Shohei Ohtani Breaks His Silence On Betting Saga appeared first on The Cold Wire.