Ohtani Cleared in Interpreter's Gambling Scandal

The Shohei Ohtani gambling scandal involves his former interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, who was accused of stealing $17 million from Ohtani to fund a gambling addiction, placing around 19,000 bets with bookmaker Mathew Bowyer. Federal investigations and MLB confirmed Ohtani's innocence, declaring him a victim of bank fraud. Despite Mizuhara's guilty plea for bank and tax fraud, and a 57-month prison sentence, questions linger about Ohtani’s awareness of Mizuhara’s activities. Bowyer, who pleaded guilty to operating an illegal gambling ring, expressed doubts about Ohtani's involvement but suggested Ohtani might have been aware of Mizuhara's issues. This scandal adds to the pressure on Ohtani, who also faces scrutiny for recent on-field struggles and the implications of his $700 million contract with the Dodgers.