‘I didn’t know’ Shohei Ohtani insists at press conference as Dodgers star addresses interpreter ‘gambling & theft’ claim | 1E33S5N | 2024-03-31 02:08:01
'I didn't know' Shohei Ohtani insists at press conference as Dodgers star addresses interpreter 'gambling & theft' claim | 1E33S5N | 2024-03-31 02:08:01
Ohtani addressed the controversy around Ippei Mizuhara for the primary time on Monday, five days a
DODGERS star Shohei Ohtani has branded his fired interpreter a liar while insisting that he had no position in any illegal playing.
Ohtani addressed the controversy around Ippei Mizuhara for the primary time on Monday, five days after the Dodgers fired Mizuhara.
Mizuhara was sacked final week after Ohtani's representatives discovered that the MLB two-way star was the "victim of an enormous theft."
The scandal was first reported by ESPN and The Los Angeles Times.
A number of the allegations towards Mizuhara contain wire transfers from Ohtani's accounts which ran as much as a minimum of $four.5 million.
Mizuhara additionally admitted to participating in playing and allegedly has ties to an unlawful bookmaker.
MLB bars players and staff from betting on baseball they usually're prohibited from wagering on different sports activities with illegal or offshore bookmakers.
On Monday, Ohtani took part in a Dodgers press conference and spoke for 12 minutes concerning the ordeal.
He was with a new interpreter, Will Ireton, a Dodgers employee, who revealed that the MLB star stated in Japanese, "I'm very saddened and shocked who I trusted has completed this."
Ohtani stated that he has "by no means guess on sports or requested somebody to try this on my behalf."
The 28-year-old added that Mizuhara "has been stealing from my account and has advised lies."
"Up till a pair days ago, I didn't know this was occurring," Ohtani stated in Japanese.
"To summarize how I'm feeling right now, I'm past shocked.
"It's actually arduous to verbalize how I'm feeling at this point."
'A COMPLETE LIE'
Ohtani stated he came upon at a workforce assembly after the MLB group's first recreation in South Korea final week that Mizuhara admitted to using money from the MLB star's account to gamble on sports.
Ohtani additionally denied claims from Mizuhura, who advised ESPN that Ohtani paid his money owed off on the interpreter's request.
ESPN stated Mizuhara changed his story the subsequent day, and he stated Ohtani didn't have information of the playing money owed and didn't transfer any money to bookmakers.
Ohtani reiterated several occasions on Monday that he has by no means guess on sports and didn't knowingly pay off Mizuhara's gambling money owed.
"All of this has been an entire lie," Ohtani stated.
"Ippei obviously principally didn't tell me concerning the media inquiry.
"So Ippei has been telling everyone around that he has been speaking with me on this account to the media and my staff, and that hasn't been true."
Federal authorities launched a felony investigation into Mizuhara and the alleged illegal bookmaker while the MLB conducts its personal inner investigation.
OHTANI'S JOURNEY TO THE DODGERS
Ohtani joined the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters of Japan's Nippon Skilled Baseball League in 2013.
Mizuhara was the group's interpreter and have become shut with Ohtani.
As soon as Ohtani signed with the Los Angeles Angels in 2017, he introduced Mizuhara along for the journey.
They have been close associates and every day companions with Mizuhara serving as Ohtani's interpreter while he was with the Angels from 2018 to 2022.
Ohtani gained two MVPs as a pitcher and a hitter throughout his Angels tenure.
He left the Angels to sign a 10-year, $700 million contract with the Dodgers within the offseason.
Mizuhara continued to be Ohtani's translator right through the Dodgers' recreation towards the San Diego Padres in Seoul last Wednesday.
It wasn't clear on Monday if Mizuhara had an lawyer to talk on his behalf, or if he returned to america after the trip to Seoul.
Ohtani and the Dodgers will start the MLB season at residence towards the St. Louis Cardinals on Thursday.
More >> https://ift.tt/daiNygI Source: MAG NEWS
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