Shohei Ohtani in Dodgers uniform(Photo by Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images)
An official inquiry has been launched by Major League Baseball into claims of theft and illicit gambling involving Los Angeles Dodgers player Shohei Ohtani and his former interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara.

On Wednesday, Mizuhara was fired by the team in response to accusations from ESPN and the Los Angeles Times regarding his possible connections to an illegal bookmaker. Ohtani’s representatives also asserted that their client, the two-way Japanese star, had been the victim of a “massive theft.”

“Major League Baseball has been gathering information since we learned about the allegations involving Shohei Ohtani and Ippei (Mizuhara) from the news media,” the commissioner’s office said in a statement Friday. “Earlier today, our Department of Investigations began their formal process investigating the matter.”
Not everybody is convinced that the interpreter did this and he just might be the fall guy in this situation.

We now seem to have some damning evidence of Shohei Ohtani’s involvement in this scandal as there has now been a deep dive into his previous games.

X user @timmy_smokes has seemingly cracked the case after he took to the popular social media site and posted a thread showing evidence that Shohei Ohtani was indeed throwing games on purpose amid this gambling probe.

(2) that day? Shohei Ohtani. That stats for Shohei that day were as followed, 6.1 IP, 6 H, 6 ER and 1 BB. At the plate you ask? 0-3 with 2 strike outs. Was he throwing games? I’ll let you decide that

— TimmySmokes (@timmy_smokes) March 22, 2024

(4) 10 MILLION DOLLAR BET WAS PLACED. Same bookie, same town….. a parlay with +2500 odds.
•Astros -1.5
•Astros o 6.5
•Shohei o 4.5 runs allowed
•Shohei u 6.5 K
•game total o 11.5
Shohei’s line for that day, 6 IP, 9 H, 5 ER while allowing 2 home runs. Shohei went 2-5 at the

— TimmySmokes (@timmy_smokes) March 22, 2024

(5) plate. The extra motivation to make the over cash really helped.

He has a true addiction and problem. He needs real help. Hopefully the true story gets out and the poor interpreter can be set free from this madness. @espn @JeffPassan @Ken_Rosenthal #Ohtani

— TimmySmokes (@timmy_smokes) March 22, 2024

Shohei Ohtani, Major League Baseball’s two-way player and singular sensation, had hogged center stage all offseason, and now that the season is underway, he is at the center of a major controversy that could lead to a possible suspension depending on how this investigation plays out.

Ohtani became the only player in baseball history to win a second unanimous MVP award and he promptly signed a record-setting $700 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers after a free agent sweepstakes frenzy.

Sunday’s Freeway Series opener at Dodger Stadium pitted him against his former team, the Los Angeles Angels.

Shohei Ohtani Will Speak To Reporters Amid Gambling Investigation

Shohei Ohtani’s silence will end Monday.

Shohei Ohtani is set to speak for the first time Monday since his former interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, was fired amid gambling and theft accusations rocked the sport. Although neither he nor his interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, have been charged with a crime, they are under an IRS investigation.

MLB has not placed Ohtani on administrative leave or the restricted list, so he remains an active player.