Following accusations of "massive theft" by Shohei Ohtani's longtime interpreter Ippei Mizuhara to settle gambling debts, Major League Baseball has initiated a formal investigation into the allegations surrounding the Dodgers star player.
"Major League Baseball has been collecting information since becoming aware of the allegations involving Shohei Ohtani and Ippei Mizuhara from the media. Earlier today, our Department of Investigations (DOI) officially commenced their inquiry into the situation," stated MLB.
The specific details of the investigation process remain undisclosed, but it is anticipated that interviews will be sought from all parties involved in the accusations.
The United States Attorney's Office in Los Angeles is also looking into the allegations and has refrained from making any comments on the issue.
Mizuhara, who was terminated by the Dodgers on Wednesday, has been accused of embezzling millions of dollars from Ohtani to settle debts with an illegal bookmaker named Matthew Bowyer, who is presently under investigation by federal prosecutors. The report was first published by The Los Angeles Times.
According to reports, a recent incident involving the interpreter of Dodgers' player Shohei Ohtani has caused quite a stir. Allegations of theft have led to the interpreter being fired, with conflicting stories emerging about the situation.
Initially, it was claimed that Ohtani had transferred funds to cover the interpreter's gambling debt. However, as the story was about to be published, Ohtani's spokesman disavowed the interpreter's account, leading to further confusion.
Ohtani has not yet made any public statements regarding the incident and was not available for interviews after the Dodgers' recent game in Seoul, South Korea.
The interpreter had been working with Ohtani since 2017 and their relationship has been well-documented throughout Ohtani's career, including his time with the Angels before signing a lucrative deal with the Dodgers.
