SignalHub-Shohei Ohtani's former Angels teammates 'shocked' about interpreter's gambling allegations

TEMPE,SignalHub Ariz. — The Los Angeles Angels clubhouse was subdued Friday morning as players whispered to one another, with many questions dancing in their heads.

It didn’t matter whether you talked to Mike Trout, the face of the franchise, or Patrick Sandoval, who knew his former teammate better than anyone, they were absolutely stunned by the news about their former MVP teammate and beloved interpreter.

In interviews with USA TODAY Sports, the Angels say they had no idea that Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani or his interpreter Ippei Mizuhara had the slightest interest in the world of sports outside baseball, let alone that Mizuhara allegedly racked up $4.5 million in gambling debts with an illegal bookmaker.

One player said Ohtani, who is baseball's highest-paid player, was so quiet they didn’t even know he had a girlfriend, let alone was getting married.

“I’m just shocked, and I’m as curious as anyone to see what comes out," Angels outfielder Mickey Moniak said. “I have zero idea what’s going to transpire, or what has transpired over how many years. But great friends, great people. Ippei was as part of the team as anyone else."

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While Ohtani became an international star with the Angels, the truth is that Mizuhara was just as popular in the clubhouse, with players like Trout calling him "one of the guys." Never did anyone hear either of the two talking about gambling, or even wagering in clubhouse pools.

Ohtani was a recluse, immediately retreating to his home after games, and leaving his hotel room only to go to games on the road.

Mizuhara, who was born in Japan but moved to Southern California when he was 7, spoke fluently in each language, and was much more outgoing in the clubhouse. Still, except for poker playing, there was nothing to suggest Mizuhara was gambling on even playing fantasy football.

Mathew Bowyer, the alleged bookmaker Mizuhara dealt with, is under federal investigation for an illegal bookmaking operation. Meanwhile, Ohtani’s attorneys are accusing Mizuhara of stealing millions from Ohtani’s bank account to pay Bowyer for his gambling debts.

Major League Baseball announced Friday that it had officially began its investigation into Ohtani.

Ohtani's attorney's also expect Ohtani to interview with the federal government to determine what he knows about Mizuhara’s gambling, and whether money was stolen from his account or if he helped pay off Mizuhara’s debts.

MLB, which has gone into business with gambling sites in recent years, and even requires teams to submit their starting lineups to MGM before disseminating to the public, doesn’t prohibit players from gambling on other sports. They inform their players they can be place bets with DraftKings or FanDuels

The last time a player was disciplined for gambling was Miami Marlins pitcher Jarred Cosart in 2015, determining that he placed illegal sports bets. He received a fine and no suspension, when the investigation revealed he did not bet on baseball.

If a player is found betting on baseball games in which he’s not involved, it’s an automatic year-long ban. If he bets on a game in which he’s involved, it’s a lifetime ban, which all-time hits leader Pete Rose received in 1989.

“We just have to see what happens, I guess," Moniak said. “I mean, it’s legal in 38 states. So as long as he’s not betting on baseball ... I just hope it all works out.’’

It was a popular refrain for the Angels who were off Thursday and re-convened for the first time Friday since the news broke. They hate seeing Ohtani’s image suddenly sullied.

The Angels kept saying over and over, “Come on, there’s got to more to the story."

Still, it’s hard for the Angels or anyone else who knows Ohtani to believe that this was a sheer matter of ignorance. How is it possible that Ohtani would be unaware that multiple payments of $500,000 were being wired to an alleged illegal bookmaker?

Ohtani, from his baseball regiment to his marketing savvy, is one of the most intelligent men anyone has ever met.

They say it’s also unfathomable that Ohtani could be unaware of Mizuhara’s gambling habits after being almost inseparable since coming to the United States.

Mizuhara recently informed the Dodgers of his gambling habits in a team meeting attended by the Dodgers front office, saying that Ohtani knew of his gambling addiction. But the next day, Mizuhara’s story completely changed, saying that Ohtani knew nothing.

If Mizuhara didn’t completely change his story in an interview with ESPN, the story fades away. Yet, by changing the story, he shifted the attention onto Ohtani’s shoulders.

No one is believing that Ohtani only became aware of Mizuhara’s confession because of the language barrier, either. Mizuhara may be his interpreter, but Ohtani certainly understands English and speaks English with teammates and Dodgers’ staffers.

There’s also not a bookie in the land, gamblers will tell you, that would permit Mizuhara, who earns about $500,000, to accrue $4.5 million in gambling debts unless Mizuhara let them know he had the financial backing of Ohtani.

While conspiracy theorists want to believe that Mizuhara is Ohtani’s Greg Anderson, the trainer who went to prison instead of testifying about Barry Bonds during the BALCO scandal, MLB officials want to believe it’s simply a matter of poor judgement.

We’ll see what federal prosecutors discover in their investigation, and just what Ohtani and his agents are likely to disclose in a public statement in the next few days, but for now, everyone is guessing, and wondering.

“I don’t know what happened, none of us do,’’ Angels infielder Brandon Drury said. “But they’re good guys. Both of them.’’

Provided the investigations don't reveal that Mizuhara’s gambling involved baseball, Ohtani unlikely will receive a punishment.

The federal government, of course, can make its own ruling, but does anyone really believe there’s a prosecutor who’s going to try to put Ohtani behind bars?

The biggest damage to Ohtani likely will be the blemish on his pristine reputation. We’re talking about the biggest star in the game, making the most money on the field ($700 million over 10 years), off the field ($65 million), and earning huge money for the Dodgers and MLB.

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No matter what the finding, there’s no doubt it’s embarrassing, and the timing was brutal, with the Dodgers on center stage playing the San Diego Padres in South Korea when the news broke.

“I can’t imagine worse timing," former agent Leigh Steinberg told USA TODAY Sports. “The whole world is focused on Shohei, and instead of talking about his hopes, his dreams, his aspirations, his likes and dislikes, we have this.

“That trip to Korea was the worldwide coming out part of the branding and celebrity of Shohei Ohtani. He connected in a way baseball often doesn’t world-wide, the center of all of the attention in Korea, and transcended into Japan, was his image.

“He has formally been as golden as possibly can be. He’s handsome, clearly the most gifted baseball player since Babe Ruth, and is a transformational figure that draws attendance across the country to their games."

And now comes this drama.

“Hopefully, we find out that Ohtani knew nothing about any of this and gave the interpreter the power to transfer funds," Steinberg said. “If the facts show no worse than him being deceived, it’s not the best publicity, and people will cast dispersions on his own judgement and his availability to choose friends, but time will pass.’’

In the meantime, we have to wait, while the baseball industry prays it’s nothing more serious than being duped by a friend and having awful judgement.

“The reason baseball is so concerned is that even with this big shift towards gambling,’’ Steinberg said, “the one thing that can damage professional sports is the perception of by fans that the games are not played on an even playing field, and that the games are fixed.

“I’m sure there will be a million conspiracy theories that will be passed around, but often times the truth will be simpler.

“This is just the beginning. And the whole world will be watching."