Los Angeles Dodgers slugger Shohei Ohtani is one of the best players in baseball. He is also wrapped up in a scandal at the moment. His former interpreter stole millions of dollars from him and used the money to place large bets. Many wondered if the former Angels star knew about the questionable behaviors but all of the investigations have shown Ohtani is the victim. In a recent interview, Ohtani talked about what the support from the city of Los Angeles has meant to him.
Los Angeles Dodgers Shohei Ohtani On City’s Support
The fans in Los Angeles have been very supportive of the former MVP. He sat down with reporters on Wednesday and expressed his gratitude toward the fanbase.
“The investigation is currently still going on, so I can’t really say much about that. But it made me really realize how supportive the teammates, the organization, the staff have been towards me. It’s just allowed me to really reflect on how grateful I am to be surrounded by them.”
Shohei Ohtani had to be very cryptic in his answers as there are many legal investigations still ongoing. What was tough for Ohtani was that his former interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, was not just a business partner but also a friend. He spoke about how many of his Los Angeles Dodgers teammates have stepped in to help. This situation requires support from people as it has rocked the baseball world.
Where Does The Investigation Stand?
Mizuhara is in trouble. If he is convicted of bank fraud, he faces up to 30 years in prison. At this point, the ex-translator is out on a $25,000 bond. Reports indicate he is trying to negotiate a plea deal for a lighter sentence. Mizuhara’s attorney, Michael G. Freedman, said that after the hearing, they hope to “reach an agreement with the government to resolve this case as quickly as possible so that he can take responsibility.”
While it seems that Mizuhara will be punished in some way, the real question Los Angeles Dodgers fans want to know is if their $700 million player is at risk of getting suspended.
Any Punishment For Ohtani?
Shohei Ohtani just hit this baseball 115.6 MPH 🔥 pic.twitter.com/Ha9SV8PXvJ
— MLB (@MLB) April 24, 2024
At this point, it seems unlikely that Shohei Ohtani will be punished by major league baseball for several reasons. First, all investigations have returned and found that Ohtani was the victim. He did not know what was going on. Second, he is the biggest star in baseball. Suspending him would cripple a sport that is already having issues garnering fans. Major League Baseball hopes this will all blow over now that investigations are wrapping up.
The Los Angeles Dodgers have gotten off to a good but not great start this season. They paid over a billion dollars for players, and that has put pressure on them to win. Expectations are sky-high; if they do not win the World Series, many will call this season a failure. Regardless, baseball fans will love tuning into this team to see Shohei Ohtani and many other stars mash the baseball.
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Matt Brown has been following sports since he was a kid. It does not matter what sport he is talking about; he tends to be an expert in it. When he is not glued to following sports, he is a banker in Wisconsin and hosts two podcasts, Beers and Ears & Discontinued on Display.
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