MLB
What would punishment be for Shohei Ohtani if MLB discovers he participated in illegal betting?
Dodgers designated hitter Ohtani, 29, is to address the media on Monday about the betting scandal centred around his former interpreter.
Major League Baseball revealed on Friday that it is to investigate Shohei Ohtani’s relationship with his former interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, who has been fired by the Los Angeles Dodgers amid a betting scandal that has prompted Ohtani to call a press conference later on Monday.
Interpreter fired by Dodgers last week
Mizuhara was sacked by the MLB franchise on Wednesday, after a federal probe was launched into large transfers made from Ohtani’s bank accounts, allegedly to pay off debts the interpreter incurred from illegal sports betting.
The Los Angeles Times and ESPN reported last week that Mizuhara benefited from electronic transfers totalling seven figures - believed to be at least $4.5 million - from Ohtani’s accounts. This came to light as federal authorities investigated an alleged illegal betting operation run by Orange County resident Matthew Bowyer.
While sports betting is permitted in some form in other states and territories in the US, it is illegal in California.
Ohtani suffered “massive theft”, attorneys say
Ohtani’s lawyers have said in a statement that the 29-year-old designated hitter, who joined the Dodgers on a 10-year, $700 million contract in December, has been the victim of a “massive theft”.
What are MLB’s punishments for betting?
Were Ohtani himself to be found to have been involved in sports betting, either legal or illegal, the three-time All-Star would face a ban from MLB - with the length of the suspension dependent on the gravity of the offence.
According to League Rule 21, any MLB player found to have bet on any game of baseball in which he is not involved, will be banned for a year. The same goes for any MLB umpire, or club or league official. Meanwhile, anyone caught betting on a game in which they are a participant will be given a life ban.
Mizuhara has said that he placed bets on NFL, college football and soccer matches, but never baseball games.
Finally, the MLB rule book says that those found to be have taken part in illegal betting “shall be subject to such penalty as the Commissioner [Rob Manfred] deems appropriate in light of the facts and circumstances of the conduct”. MLB defines an illegal bookmaker as any betting operation in jurisdictions where sports gambling is unlawful.
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When will Ohtani speak to the media?
Ohtani is expected to address the media at 6:45pm ET/3:45pm PT on Monday.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told reporters on Sunday, per NBC Los Angeles: “I’m happy he’s going to speak - speak to what he knows and give his thoughts on the whole situation. I think it’ll give us a little bit more clarity.” Rodgers added that Dodgers employee Will Ireton will be the player’s interpreter during the press conference.