MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred Breaks Silence On Shohei Ohtani Investigation
Major League Baseball announced last week that it has officially launched an investigation into the situation involving Dodgers’ star Shohei Ohtani and his former interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara.
This came a few days after the Dodgers fired Mizuhara, and Ohtani’s camp accused him of “massive theft” in regards to using Ohtani’s funds to pay off more than $4.5 million in gambling debt.
Then, earlier this week, Ohtani spoke out about the incident in a 12-minute press conference in which he didn’t take any questions, but answered a lot of the questions that arose throughout the last week.
And on Thursday’s Opening Day across the league, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred went on MLB Network’s High Heat, and spoke about myriad topics, including Ohtani.
“Given the way the story unfolded, it’s important in terms of assuring our fans about the integrity of the game that we verify the things that Mr. Ohtani has said, and it’s really that simple,” Manfred said to Chris Russo. “It’s really difficult for the federal authorities to cooperate with us fully when they have their own ongoing investigation so I think this is one where we’ll have to proceed on our own. We never have the kind of authority that law enforcement people have, but we manage to get these investigations done and find the facts and I’m sure we will on this one.”
Russo asked Manfred how long the investigation could take, and Manfred had a simple answer:
“I hope short, but I just don’t know.”
Ohtani isn’t expected to face any discipline during the ongoing investigation.
He made his Dodger Stadium debut as a member of the Dodgers on Thursday, and went 2-for-3 with a double, a walk and a run scored in Los Angeles’ 7-1 win over the St. Louis Cardinals.
Photo Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports
I think he should be suspended for the rest of the baseball season for what he has done
Let me see if I got this right the guy gets ripped off from his interpreter and you want him benched the rest of the year,let me guess your probably a giants fan, or SD ,you could only pray he’s taken off the roster, what happened to innocent until proven guilty,,,,,
What has he done? You’re innocent until proven guilty. After an investigation indicates otherwise, why punish someone?
Exactly what did he do, since you seem to know more than the Feds and MLB?
It hasn’t been proven he has done anything.
You’ve been raked enough for your ignorant ass take.
Yeah, no one should ever be allowed to be ripped off!
Terry is an idiot. Yea suspend him for being robbed. That makes sense. It’s not like any pro athlete has ever been robbed by close friends or family. Unheard of. ?
He is guilty and used his interpreter as a fall guy! Who has access to 4.5 million dollars? Does he have a financial accountant? Who approved the transfer? Only he whom else his mother?
Many athletes have been swindled for more than this when they allow advisors to have power of attorney to their money. It’s not surprising that Shohei had millions in an account. I expect they’ll find that the bank called his manager/interpreter to verify the transactions and he told them to approve them.
Ban Ohtani from baseball for life.
It’s only your opinion. Opinion is far from fact.
No one seems to know why Othani has yet to file charges against the guy who robbed him.
So what gives??
Maybe it’s because it’s his friend. Just stop talking if you can and see how it goes. You are innocent until proven guilty and being tried in the media is not good.
And what accountant misses $4.5 million dollars in the math?
Let Major league baseball figure it out instead of convicting him here.