LOS ANGELES — Shohei Ohtani sat back in his seat inside the press conference room at Dodger Stadium. He adjusted his cap and opened a folder that consisted of some of the points he wanted to make sure he relayed.
For the first time since Major League Baseball announced an investigation into the gambling allegations surrounding Ippei Mizuhara, Ohtani’s longtime interpreter and close confidant, the Dodgers’ star designated hitter addressed the situation on his own.
In the 12-minute press conference, which only consisted of Ohtani talking through interpreter Will Ireton and no questions from the 70-plus reporters in attendance, the two-time unanimous American League Most Valuable Player said that he has never bet on baseball or other sports and has not made any payments to an illegal bookmaker.
“I’ve never bet on baseball or any other sports or asked someone to do it on my behalf,” Ohtani said. “I’ve never asked a bookmaker to do it on my behalf. Up until a few days ago, I didn’t know this was happening. In conclusion, Ippei has been stealing money from my account and has told lies.”
The initial story surrounding the sports gambling allegations surfaced early Wednesday morning in South Korea while the Dodgers were in the middle of a two-game series against the Padres.
Before the first game in Seoul, Mizuhara spoke to ESPN and claimed that Ohtani had wired money to the illegal bookmaker in order to cover Mizuhara’s debt, which was a reported sum of at least $4.5 million. Mizuhara later backtracked and said Ohtani had no knowledge of his gambling debts.
Ohtani recalled that before the opening game against the Padres on Wednesday, Mizuhara had approached him at the stadium, asking him to speak following the game.
“I was told by Ippei, ‘Let’s talk one on one in the hotel after the meeting,’ so I was waiting until then,” Ohtani said.
Mizuhara addressed the Dodgers inside the clubhouse following their win that night, and during that address, Ohtani said he was confused, explaining that it was the first time he had heard about Mizuhara’s gambling debts or his claims that he had willingly given him money in order to pay off the sum.
“Up until that team meeting,” Ohtani said. “I didn’t even know Ippei had a gambling addiction and was in debt. I never agreed to pay off the debt or make payments to the bookmaker.”
Once Ohtani and Mizuhara got back to the team hotel, Ohtani said, the two longtime friends sat down and talked through the situation. While Ohtani didn’t get into any specifics of that conversation, he did walk away understanding that Mizuhara had taken money from his bank account.
“When we went back to the hotel and talked one on one, that’s when I found out he had a massive debt,” Ohtani said. “It was revealed to me during that meeting, Ippei admitted he was sending money, using my account, to the bookmaker.”
Ohtani didn’t address how Mizuhara gained access to his account or why the former interpreter first claimed that Ohtani willingly lent him money to pay the bookmaker, though he did say that Mizuhara “never revealed to me” about the media inquiries. He also acknowledged that his talk with Mizuhara at the hotel led to him reaching out to his representatives with questions surrounding potential theft.
“When I was finally able to talk to my representatives, that’s when my representatives found out Ippei has been lying the whole time and I started contacting the Dodgers and my lawyers,” Ohtani said. “And the Dodgers and the lawyers found out as well that they have been lied to. My lawyers recommended that since this is fraud, that we have the proper authorities handle this matter.”
In the end, Ohtani wanted to reiterate that he never made bets, especially not on baseball. That, of course, is an important distinction.
Major League Baseball’s Rule 21 (d)(3) states that “Any player, umpire, or Club or League official or employee who places bets with illegal book makers, or agents for illegal book makers, shall be subject to such penalty as the Commissioner deems appropriate in light of the facts and circumstances of the conduct.”
In 2015, Marlins pitcher Jarred Cosart was fined and not suspended by MLB for violating Rule 21 (d)(3), though after it was determined by the league that Cosart had not bet on baseball.
“I’m just beyond shocked. It’s really hard to verbalize how I am feeling at this point,” Ohtani said. “I’m going to let my lawyers handle matters from here on out. I’m looking forward to focusing on the season. … I’m sure there will be continuing investigations moving forward.”
MLB announced on Friday that the league had begun the formal process of investigating the matter.
LOS ANGELES – – Shohei Ohtani sat back in his seat inside the question and answer session room at Dodger Arena. He changed his cap and opened an organizer that comprised of a portion of the focuses he needed to ensure he handed-off.
Interestingly since Significant Association Baseball declared an examination concerning the betting claims encompassing Ippei Mizuhara, Ohtani’s long-lasting translator and close comrade, the Dodgers’ star assigned hitter tended to the circumstance all alone.
In the 12-minute public interview, which just comprised of Ohtani talking through translator Will Ireton and no inquiries from the 70 or more journalists in participation, the double cross consistent American Association Most Significant Player said that he has never wagered on baseball or different games and has not made any installments to an unlawful bookmaker.
“I’ve never wagered on baseball or some other games or requested that somebody do it for my benefit,” Ohtani said. “I’ve never requested that a bookmaker do it for my sake. As of recently, I didn’t have a clue about this was occurring. All in all, Ippei has been taking cash from my record and has lied.”
The underlying story encompassing the games betting claims surfaced early Wednesday morning in South Korea while the Dodgers were in a two-game series against the Padres.
Before the main game in Seoul, Mizuhara addressed ESPN and guaranteed that Ohtani had wired cash to the unlawful bookmaker to cover Mizuhara’s obligation, which was a detailed amount of something like $4.5 million. Mizuhara later backtracked and said Ohtani had no information on his betting obligations.
Ohtani reviewed that before the initial game against the Padres on Wednesday, Mizuhara had moved toward him at the arena, requesting that he talk following the game.
“I was told by Ippei, ‘We should talk one on one in the lodging after the gathering,’ so I was holding on up to that point,” Ohtani said.
Mizuhara tended to the Dodgers inside the clubhouse following their success that evening, and during that location, Ohtani said he was befuddled, making sense of that it was whenever he first had found out about Mizuhara’s betting obligations or his cases that he had eagerly provided him cash to take care of the aggregate.
“Up until that group meeting,” Ohtani said. “I didn’t actually realize Ippei had a betting fixation and was under water. I never consented to take care of the obligation or make installments to the bookmaker.”
When Ohtani and Mizuhara returned to the group inn, Ohtani said, the two long-lasting companions plunked down and talked through the circumstance. While Ohtani got into no particulars of that discussion, he left understanding that Mizuhara had taken cash from his ledger.
“At the point when we returned to the lodging and talked one on one, that is the point at which I figured out he had a huge obligation,” Ohtani said. “It was uncovered to me during that gathering, Ippei conceded he was sending cash, utilizing my record, to the bookmaker.”
Ohtani didn’t address how Mizuhara accessed his record or why the previous translator initially guaranteed that Ohtani energetically loaned him cash to pay the bookmaker, however he said that Mizuhara “never uncovered to me” about the media requests. He additionally recognized that his discussion with Mizuhara at the inn prompted him contacting his delegates with questions encompassing likely robbery.
“At the point when I was at long last ready to converse with my delegates, that is the point at which my agents figured out Ippei has been lying the entire time and I began reaching the Dodgers and my legal counselors,” Ohtani said. “Furthermore, the Dodgers and the attorneys found out too that they have been deceived. My legal advisors suggested that since this is extortion, that we have the appropriate specialists handle this matter.”
Eventually, Ohtani needed to emphasize that he never made wagers, particularly not on baseball. That, obviously, is a significant differentiation.
Significant Association Baseball’s Standard 21 (d)(3) states that “Any player, umpire, or Club or Association official or representative who puts down wagers with unlawful book producers, or specialists for unlawful book creators, will be dependent upon such punishment as the Magistrate considers fitting considering current realities and conditions of the direct.”
In 2015, Marlins pitcher Jolted Cosart was fined and not suspended by MLB for abusing Rule 21 (d)(3), however after not set in stone by the association that Cosart had not wagered on baseball.
“I’m simply past stunned. It’s truly difficult to express the way in which I’m feeling as of now,” Ohtani said. “I will allow my legal advisors to deal with issues from this point forward. I’m anticipating zeroing in on the season. … I’m certain there will be proceeding with examinations pushing ahead.”
MLB declared on Friday that the association had started the proper course of researching the matter.