Shohei Ohtani is seen throwing again for the first time since surgery… on the same day the Dodgers star denied wrongdoing amid MLB gambling probe and accused interpreter Ippei Mizuhara of lying and stealing from him
Los Angeles Dodgers two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani was seen throwing for the first time since his surgery last year that will prevent him from pitching in the 2024 season.
Reporters present saw the star tossing the ball around – the first time Ohtani has done so in front of cameras, journalists, and the public.
He did that after a press conference where he defended himself and claimed that longtime friend and translator Ippei Mizuhara had lied to him and stole millions from his bank account to pay off a gambling debt.
The star said that he was ‘very saddened and shocked’ that Mizuhara did this, adding (through an interpreter), ‘I never bet on baseball or any other sports and never asked someone to do it on my behalf and never went through a bookmaker.’
‘In conclusion, Ippei has been stealing money from my account and has told lies,’ Ohtani said.
Shohei Ohtani was seen throwing in front of cameras and reporters for the first time
The two-way player continues to recover from surgery to repair a torn UCL in his right elbow
Ohtani will not be pitching in the 2024 season as he continues to rehab and recover
The star says that Mizuhara never told him about the media inquiry into the interpreter’s gambling habits. He also says Mizuhara used the money from Ohtani’s bank account to pay off the debt without Ohtani’s knowledge.
Ohtani says he only found out last week when the team was in Korea about Mizuhara’s betting and what he had done with the star’s bank accounts.
‘To summarize how I’m feeling right now, I’m just beyond shocked. It’s really hard to verbalize how I am feeling at this point,’ Ohtani said.
‘The season is going to start. I’m going to obviously let my lawyers handle matters from here on out, and I am completely assisting in all investigations that are taking place right now.’
Ohtani was set to begin a throwing regimen recently as he recovers from a torn UCL in his throwing elbow.
He won’t be able to pitch this season as he recovers – but he will be able to swing a bat, with the Dodgers planning to use him as a designated hitter throughout the season.
Ohtani and the Dodgers will take on the Japanese star’s former team, the Los Angeles Angels, in an exhibition at Dodger Stadium on Monday night.
