Shohei Ohtani was the undisputed largest identify in MLB free company this offseason, however has since develop into the face of an out-of-the-blue playing scandal that’s prompted a federal investigation.
The Los Angeles Dodgers, who signed Ohtani to a record-setting 10-year, $700 million contract in December, fired Ohtani’s Japanese interpreter Ippei Mizuhara on Wednesday. Mizuhara went from Ohtani’s right-hand dugout man to the face of MLB’s largest scandal after allegedly partaking in an unlawful playing scheme that included the wire switch of $4.5 million straight from Ohtani’s checking account.
Initially, the story was that Ohtani prolonged a serving to hand to cowl Mizuhara’s playing debt. Nonetheless, that shortly modified after an announcement from Berk Brettler LLP, the legislation agency representing Ohtani. They claimed that the 29-year-old was the sufferer of a multi-million-dollar theft. So with a significant lack of readability concerning all the scenario, Ohanti intends to clear some air by addressing the scandal and talking with the media Monday.
“It’s the proper factor to do,” Dodgers supervisor Dave Roberts mentioned, per the Related Press. “I’m joyful he’s going to talk and communicate to what he is aware of and provides his ideas on the entire scenario. I feel it’ll give us all a bit of bit extra readability.”
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Roberts additionally famous that Ohtani determined to talk with the media and the Dodgers didn’t encourage final season’s American League MVP.
Roberts has solely managed Ohtani by means of a quick two-game sequence towards the San Diego Padres to open up the 2024 season in Seoul, South Korea. However as an alternative of talks surrounding the following, nice Dodgers superteam, Ohtani’s arrival has as an alternative develop into the most important distraction in any MLB locker room.
The primary wave of uncoverings concerning Mizuhara’s now-questionable previous has revealed that the ex-Los Angeles Angels staffer, who labored with Ohtani from 2018-2023, didn’t graduate from the College of California-Riverside in 2007, in response to NBC Los Angeles.
“Our college data don’t present a pupil by the identify of Ippei Mizuhara having attended UC Riverside,” a spokesperson mentioned, per Sam Blum of The Athletic.
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Contemplating Ohtani is the largest identify in baseball with a near-spotless observe report since taking part in professionally in Japan, the scandal is jaw-dropping. Ohtani’s by no means been on the forefront of hassle off or on the sphere and the Dodgers acquired the two-way phenom to assist lead Los Angeles to a non-COVID-restricted World Collection title.
As of Sunday evening, Mizuhara has not been charged with any crime.