Dodgers fans desperate for some silver lining in Shohei Ohtani’s ongoing gambling scandal got just that from manager Dave Roberts on Tuesday in Anaheim.
“Actually, I would say it will help relations internally,” Roberts said before his team’s final spring training against Ohtani’s former club, the Angels.
There is some logic behind Rodgers’ statement.
Ohtani has relied heavily on his longtime friend and interpreter Ippei Mizuhara since first arriving in the Majors from Japan in 2017. But now that the Dodgers have fired Mizuhara amid claims he stole millions from Ohtani to cover gambling losses with an illegal California sportsbook, Roberts says his team’s new $700 million man is being forced to communicate with teammates.
“There’s no buffer anymore,” Roberts said. ‘I have already seen it. I think Shohei has been even more involved with his teammates in the last few days, and I think there are only positives to that.”
Shohei Ohtani jokes with Dodgers teammate James Outman before Tuesday’s exhibition
Roberts (left) thinks Ohtani (far right) will open up more without the fired Mizuhara (near right)
Confusingly, thanks to last week’s Seoul Series against the San Diego Padres in South Korea, the Dodgers were already 1-1 in the regular season that started on Tuesday. And it was in Seoul where the scandal broke last week when ESPN reported $4.5 million in suspicious wire transfers from Ohtani’s bank to the sportsbook, which is reportedly under federal investigation.
Ohtani spokespeople first told ESPN that the 29-year-old slugger covered Mizuhara’s extensive gambling debts. Later, after ESPN spoke to Mizuhara about the allegations, Ohtani’s spokespeople dismissed the translator’s comments to the network, instead offering a statement from lawyers representing the two-time MVP.
Since then, Major League Baseball has announced its own investigation into the matter, with Ohtani reading a statement to reporters repeating his spokespeople’s claims against Mizuhara while denying that he ever violated MLB rules by betting on baseball.
“On a personal note, I am very saddened and shocked that someone I trust did this,” Ohtani began.
‘Obviously there are things today that I can only talk about to a limited extent. I hope you understand it. I have a document in front of me that I will refer to that details what happened.
‘I have never bet on baseball or other sports, and I have never asked anyone to do so on my behalf, and I have never bet on sports through a bookmaker. Until a few days ago I didn’t know this was happening. Let’s take a quick look at the result. In short, Ippei stole money from my account and told lies.’
Shohei Ohtani and Ippei Mizuhara leave a press conference in Seoul last week
Mizuhara was a fixture alongside Ohtani for the Angels.
The pair first met when Ohtani played for Japan’s Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters, where Mizuhara served as a translator for American players.
When Ohtani crossed the Pacific to join the Angels, becoming baseball’s biggest star since Babe Ruth, Mizuhara went with him and was promptly hired by the Anaheim club.
And Mizuhara was more than just an interpreter. He handled Ohtani’s schedule, managed his scouting reports on opponents, handled records on Ohtani’s workouts and also sometimes worked as a throwing partner, according to ESPN.
Perhaps most importantly, Ohtani relied on Mizuhara as his go-between with coaches, even as the Japanese star’s English improved.
Ohtani chats with his ex-Los Angeles Angels teammates during his return to Anaheim on Tuesday
Roberts isn’t worried, though.
“I think he’s very capable,” Roberts said. ‘He’s been around long enough. It just comes naturally, but if he needs help or support, he has it.’
Teammates say Ohtani understands English but doesn’t always feel comfortable speaking the language.
The Dodgers have hired Will Ireton to replace Mizuhara as Ohtani’s interpreter, but Roberts foresees his star slugger’s communication improving.
“I think we’ll all be surprised at how much English he knows, and I think that’s a good thing,” Roberts said.