ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 26: Before the Los Angeles Angels and Los Angeles Dodgers play an exhibition game at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California, Mike Trout #27 of the Los Angeles Angels and Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers embrace. (Image courtesy of Getty Images and Katharine Lotze)
After the 2023 season, two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani signed a free agent contract with the Los Angeles Angels. He spent six productive seasons as an Angel, winning two AL MVP awards in the process.
When Ohtani took the batter’s box on Tuesday, Angels fans welcomed him back to his former playground, Angel Stadium, with wild enthusiasm. A ninety-second homage to Ohtani’s contributions over the years was also displayed on the video board. When it was over, Ohtani tipped off his helmet to thank the Angels fans for their support and dedication.
But the stronger the response, the more he was struck out swinging. Angels supporters were nevertheless glad to see him.
Shohei Ohtani soaks in the moment as thousands of Angels fans pay their respects in his return to their stadium today 🙏💙
🎥: @BallySportWest pic.twitter.com/iW0p6OKIOg
— Dodgers Nation (@DodgersNation) March 27, 2024
The Dodgers’ Spring Training program comes to a close on Tuesday when they play the Angels. They will next play on Opening Day, March 28, against the St. Louis Cardinals.
Shohei Ohtani disputes being involved in claims of betting against the former interpreter
The talk of MLB these days is all about Shohei Ohtani and the bet scandal involving his former interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara. The Dodgers star stepped up on Monday to refute the claims that he was involved in the betting:
Speaking through interpreter Wile Ireton, Ohtani declared, “All of this has been a complete lie.” “Ippei clearly kept me in the dark about the media investigation. Ippei has been falsely claiming to everyone that he has been in contact with me over this account with the media and my team.
Ohtani added that he has never engaged in any kind of gambling. When he initially learned about it, he claimed to have been shocked:
“I can’t really put into words how I feel right now—I’m beyond shocked,” he remarked. “I have never placed a bet on baseball or any other sport, or asked someone else to do so on my behalf. I have never placed a bet through a bookmaker, and I have never been asked to help with another person’s betting payments.”
Ohtani says “all of this has been a complete lie,” in reference to Ippei Mizuhara’s initial version of events, including Mizuhara’s communication to Ohtani’s representatives.
Follow live ⤵️https://t.co/gVagz0esqw
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) March 25, 2024
In the end, he addressed the accusations of theft by claiming that his interpreter had been embezzling money from him:
Ohtani claimed, “Ippei has been stealing money from my account and telling lies.”
A criminal investigation is presently underway into Ippei Mizuhara following the assertion made by Shohei Ohtani’s legal representative that the Dodgers star was the victim of a “massive theft.”
In order to check into the accusations made against the interpreter, the MLB has also opened an official investigation.
What more the investigation’s conclusions will reveal is yet unknown.
