Shohei Ohtani to speak to media for first time since allegations of illegal gambling and theft against performer – Firstpost

Los Angeles: Shohei Ohtani plans to speak to the media Monday for the first time since allegations of illegal gambling and theft involving the Los Angeles Dodgers star and his interpreter emerged during the team’s trip to South Korea.

The performer, Ippei Mizuhara, was fired by the Dodgers last week after the team opened the season with two games against the San Diego Padres in Seoul.

Director Dave Roberts approved Ohtani to address the issue publicly. He said it was the superstar’s decision either way.

“It’s the right thing to do,” Roberts said. “I’m glad he’s going to come forward and talk about what he knows and give his opinion on the whole situation. I think this will give us all a little more clarity.

Mizuhara was fired from the team following reports from Los Angeles Times And ESPN over his alleged links to an illegal bookmaker and claims by Ohtani’s lawyers that the Japanese star was the victim of a “massive theft”.

Major League Baseball (MLB) has opened an investigation into the matter. The Internal Revenue Service has confirmed that Mizuhara and Mathew Bowyer, the alleged illegal bookmaker from Orange County, California, are under criminal investigation.

Will Ireton, the team’s performance operations manager, took over translation duties for Ohtani. He had already done the same thing for then-Dodgers pitcher Kenta Maeda, who is Japanese.

Ohtani made only a brief appearance in the Dodgers clubhouse before Sunday’s Freeway Series opener against his former team, the Los Angeles Angels. The teams will play three exhibition games before the Dodgers host St. Louis in their home opener on Thursday.

Ohtani was cheered loudly by the crowd of 42,607 every time he came to the plate for his first game as a Dodger in his home stadium. As the designated hitter, he went 0 for 2 with a walk and a strikeout before leaving.

He is also scheduled to play Monday in Los Angeles and Tuesday in Anaheim, where he was a two-time AL MVP before leaving the Angels as a free agent to sign a record $700 million, 10-year contract with the Dodgers in December.

Roberts said Ohtani did not address his teammates as a group.

“I think he’s had some one-off conversations with players,” Roberts said.

The manager said he checked in with Ohtani to see how he was doing.

“It’s carrying on as usual,” Roberts said.

Ohtani has a double locker in the Dodgers clubhouse located between the shower room and fellow Japanese pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who is scheduled to make his second start of the season Saturday against St. Louis.

Additional security guards were deployed to the crowded clubhouse on Sunday. Besides the players and a horde of media, eight temporary lockers were set up at one end for minor leaguers brought in from Arizona for the Freeway Series.

Overhead televisions were tuned to men’s NCAA Tournament games, baseball and horse racing, with former Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Paul Lo Duca offering televised handicapping advice on the day’s races.

The MLB Gaming Policy is posted in each clubhouse. Betting on baseball – legally or not – carries a ban from the sport for a year. The sanction for illegal betting on other sports is at the discretion of the Commissioner. Sports gambling is illegal in California, although 38 states and the District of Columbia allow some form of it.

“The mood in the room is getting ready for baseball because I don’t hear a lot of chatter and speculation,” Roberts said. “That’s why I think tomorrow will be good for everyone.”