Shohei Ohtani is arguably the biggest star in all of baseball.
Fresh off signing his record-breaking 10-year, $700 million deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers, everything seemed to be smooth sailing ahead for the Japanese superstar.
Dec 9, 2023: Shohei Ohtani signs 10-year, $700 million contract to the #Dodgers.
March 20, 2024: Shohei Ohtani plays his first game in a Dodger uniform.
April 3, 2024: SHOHEI OHTANI OFFICIALLY BECOMES A DODGER pic.twitter.com/OVVE6SxAlm
— Militant Angeleno (@militantangleno) April 4, 2024
However, the shocking gambling scandal involving him and his (now former) interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, rocked the baseball world.
Ohtani has of course denied any knowledge or involvement in the scandal.
Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani addressed the media for the first time since the team fired his interpreter Ippei Mizuhara amid gambling allegations. He denied agreeing to pay off Mizuhara's gambling debt and betting on baseball or any other sports. pic.twitter.com/DwIYiMxXgq
— CBS Evening News (@CBSEveningNews) March 26, 2024
Ohtani’s former manager Joe Maddon is taking Ohtani at his word, however he believes that his agent, Nez Balelo, may have known more than what’s been let on.
“The part that’s somewhat of a stretch is the fact that it would get by Nez (Balelo) somehow,” Maddon said on The Windup.
“You know, those kind of transactions, the agency would not be aware of that? … That’s the only part that’s incongruent with all of this.”
Powerful insight on Shohei Ohtani from his former #Angels manager, Joe Maddon on our Starkville pod. @ApplePodcasts https://t.co/AGkQzg8KPj@spotifypodcasts https://t.co/rnbga5R6z5#Dodgers #MLB @TheAthleticMLB @jaysonst
On a translator’s potential access to player financials pic.twitter.com/sLwcqZkzit
— Doug Glanville (@dougglanville) April 2, 2024
“But easily that Shohei would rely on Ippei to handle daily bill paying, whether it was via Venmo or PayPal, or a check who knows? I don’t even know. That to me is not a reach by any means,” he added.
Joe Maddon was Shohei Ohtani's manager for 2+ seasons in Anaheim.
What did he think when he heard about the Ippei Mizuhara gambling scandal?
More, from The Windup ⤵️
🎧 https://t.co/JpTXRHD8Xd pic.twitter.com/4JtyRlK7vT
— The Athletic MLB (@TheAthleticMLB) April 2, 2024
The controversy emerged after money was discovered to have been transferred from Ohtani’s account to presumably settle Mizuhara’s $4.5 million gambling debt.
Ohtani addressed the issue in a press conference at Dodger Stadium, vehemently denying any knowledge of the gambling debt and accusing Mizuhara of deceit and theft.
@mlb better put Pete in the Hall now!! pic.twitter.com/AiHIAcA0db
— Glund (@Grantlundstrom2) March 22, 2024
Maddon remained skeptical about Ohtani’s agent being unaware of the situation, emphasizing that the full truth would only come to light once investigations by federal authorities and MLB are concluded.
(We’ll see about that.)
Official MLB Investigation of Shohei Ohtani sponsored by DraftKings
— Dave (@gggiants) March 20, 2024
Los Angeles is off to a 7-2 start to the season.
While Ohtani has somewhat stumbled out of the gates (for his standards), he did slug his very first home run in a Dodgers uniform on Wednesday.
Although even that came with controversy. (Suddenly, controversy seems to follow the mild-mannered Ohtani around everywhere he goes!)
The fan that caught Shohei Ohtani's first Dodgers home run received a signed bat, ball & two hats.
But the fan and her husband say the Dodgers separated them, refused to authenticate the ball & pressured her into a quick deal.
Here's what they told me: https://t.co/PnnSywQBiq pic.twitter.com/MXjn1RbrgU
— Sam Blum (@SamBlum3) April 4, 2024
Shohei Ohtani Apparently Lied About Meeting the Fan Who Caught His First Dodgers Home Run Ball As The Fan Now Says She Was Pressured By The Team Into Accepting a Low Ball Offer In Exchange For It https://t.co/Y4HPK8QWsQ pic.twitter.com/LNLa5bRdeR
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) April 5, 2024
What are your thoughts on Maddon’s comments?
What do you think happened with the whole situation?
Who knew what? Who did what?
Will the investigation(s) end up getting to the bottom of everything???