The tumult surrounding Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani figures solely to extend as extra data involves mild concerning the playing scandal involving his former interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara. The scope of the story has solely expanded since Ohtani’s representatives accused Mizuhara of committing “large theft” to repay a reported $4.5 million in money owed to an alleged unlawful bookmaker below federal investigation.
So many questions — concerning the competing timelines provided by Mizuhara, the tactic of Mizuhara’s alleged theft, the topic of Mizuhara’s wagering — stay unanswered. However here’s what we do know, because the saga continues to unfold.
MLB is investigating Ohtani
Simply earlier than 6 p.m. on Friday, after two days of obvious contemplation, Main League Baseball introduced that after “gathering data” about “the allegations involving Shohei Ohtani and Ippei Mizuhara” its Division of Investigations had begun “their formal course of investigating the matter.” The fastidiously worded assertion prevented the direct implication that Ohtani, the game’s largest star and the current recipient of a $700 million contract with the Dodgers, was below investigation. However the league is anticipated to aim to look into the scandal whereas Ohtani’s camp pursues expenses in opposition to Mizuhara.
It’s unclear how a lot tooth the MLB investigation can have. The league can’t compel Mizuhara to conduct an interview, as a result of he’s not a league worker. The league can request an interview with Ohtani, who’s backed by the Main League Baseball Gamers’ Affiliation, however he could decline on the discretion of his counsel. The federal authorities can also not present data to MLB whereas their very own investigation is simply starting.
MLB is unlikely to position Ohtani below administrative go away, as is widespread throughout different investigations, as a result of Ohtani will not be at the moment going through allegations. Mizuhara initially claimed Ohtani authorized the debt funds to Mathew Bowyer, the alleged Southern California bookmaker who’s the goal of a federal investigation. (Sports activities betting continues to be unlawful in California, together with 11 different states.) These funds could violate baseball’s guidelines, which preclude workers from inserting bets with unlawful bookmakers. In each accounts he offered to ESPN, Mizuhara has insisted he by no means guess on baseball.
The IRS is investigating Mizuhara
In a vacuum, the preliminary story introduced by Mizuhara paints Ohtani as a rich pal who intervened on Mizuhara’s behalf to sq. his money owed. Ohtani did so, Mizuhara initially claimed, in a sequence of 9 $500,000 funds to Bowyer. These funds, whereas theoretically well-meaning, could violate the federal tax code.
The IRS has opened a felony investigation into Mizuhara, the Related Press reported. Bowyer can also be below investigation by the company’s Los Angeles workplace.
Questions emerge about Mizuhara’s background
As Ohtani’s representatives pursue expenses in opposition to Mizuhara, there was elevated scrutiny on the interpreter’s background. A narrative in The Athletic outlined a sequence of inaccuracies within the resume that Mizuhara put forth lately. Mizuhara had mentioned he was born in Japan, attended highschool in Los Angeles and graduated from the College of California, Riverside. As first reported by NBC Los Angeles, the college indicated their data didn’t include proof that Mizuhara ever attended the varsity.
Mizuhara had additionally recommended he acted because the translator for pitcher Hideki Okajima through the spring of 2012 with the New York Yankees. However Okajima failed a bodily and by no means attended camp with the membership. The Boston Crimson Sox additionally disputed beforehand revealed reporters that Mizuhara had interpreted for Okajima through the pitcher’s tenure there.
Ohtani has but to handle scenario
The Dodgers have returned to Southern California for exhibition video games in opposition to the Los Angeles Angels, Ohtani’s former group, beginning on Sunday at Dodger Stadium. There are unlikely to be many questions on baseball. Ohtani has not addressed the media because the story broke. He was cautious of partaking a lot with the press lengthy earlier than this scandal emerged. The Dodgers positioned a pair of group officers in entrance of his locker to dissuade reporters from approaching him after a sport in Seoul, South Korea on Thursday.
Each time Ohtani does converse to the media, he could decline to reply questions in deference to the continuing investigation.
The Dodgers are anticipated to make use of Will Ireton, the group’s supervisor of efficiency operations, as Ohtani’s new interpreter. Ireton was the interpreter for former Dodgers pitcher Kenta Maeda from 2016 to 2019.
(Prime picture of Shohei Ohtani and Ippei MizuharaL Rob Leiter / MLB Photographs by way of Getty Photographs)