Bombshell gambling probe engulfing Shohei Ohtani and his fired interpreter Ippei Mizuhara has NOT distracted the Dodgers, says LA manager Dave Roberts, who insists it will be ‘good’ for $700m star to speak tomorrow
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts insists the gambling probe surrounding Shohei Ohtani and his fired interpreter Ippei Mizuhara has not been a distraction for Los Angeles.
The Japanese star will break his silence on Monday, with Roberts believing it will be ‘good’ for the $700million player to address the situation.
‘I think it’s good. I think it’s the right thing to do,’ Roberts told the media. ‘I’m happy he’s going to speak to what he knows and give his thoughts on the whole situation. I think it will give us all a little bit more clarity.’
Ohtani has not yet addressed the team – and while he has spoken to Roberts, it hasn’t been about Mizuhara, according to the manager.
The slugger has also not spoken since the team fired Mizuhara, who is accused of using $4.5million of Ohtani’s money to pay off gambling debts.
Dave Roberts said that Shohei Ohtani’s decision to address the Ippei Mizuhara situation with the press on Monday is ‘good’ and ‘the right thing to do’ amidst the ongoing scandal
Roberts added that he has spoken with Ohtani, but they haven’t talked about Mizuhara
After initially claiming that Ohtani gave him the money to help his situation, representatives for the baseball star have described the events as a ‘massive theft’.
The latest developments in this story find that Mizuhara lied about attending the University of California at Riverside – and also made up that he worked with former Boston Red Sox player Hideki Okajima.
The Red Sox even went so far as to send out a release to media members, stating, ‘Mizuhara was never employed by the Boston Red Sox in any capacity and was not an interpreter for Hideki Okajima during the pitcher’s time with the team. Please know that we have thoroughly checked our files to ensure we are providing accurate information.’
Mizuhara, 39, was fired by the Dodgers on Wednesday amid questions surrounding at least $4.5 million in suspicious wire transfers from Ohtani’s bank to an illegal California gambling operation that ESPN reports is under federal investigation. Unlike many states, California has not yet legalized sports gambling.
At the time, the Dodgers were playing against the San Diego Padres in South Korea in the opening series of the season for Major League Baseball.
Spokespeople for Ohtani initially told ESPN that the 29-year-old was helping Mizuhara to cover massive gambling debts. But later – after the interpreter spoke to ESPN about the allegations – Ohtani’s representatives disavowed his comments and offered a statement from the Dodgers star’s attorneys:
‘In the course of responding to recent media inquiries, we discovered that Shohei has been the victim of a massive theft, and we are turning the matter over to the authorities,’ read the statement from Ohtani’s law firm, Berk Brettler LLP.
Shohei Ohtani and Ippei Mizzuhara are seen leaving a press conference in Seoul last week
Ohtani’s lawyers did not outright accuse Mizuhara of stealing from the slugger, but the Los Angeles Times reports that the interpreter is accused of grifting millinos from the star.
Moreover, representatives for Ohtani have denied the Dodgers star is involved in any illegal gambling – insisting he had no knowledge of Mizuhara’s gambling problem.
According to the Associated Press, the IRS is investigating Mizuhara. Major League Baseball announced their own investigation on Friday.
Roberts was asked about his team’s successful trip to South Korea – and addressed rumors that Major League Baseball is considering opening their 2025 season with a game in Tokyo.
The manager told reporters, ‘I have heard rumblings, I hope we’re included, I know there’s nothing finalized yet. But obviously it would make a lot of sense.’
