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SEOUL: Dodgers public relations officials blocked media from asking Shohei Ohtani questions in South Korea on Thursday (Mar 21) following the team firing his interpreter for an alleged connection to an illegal bookmaking operator.
Manager Dave Roberts said Thursday he never considered holding Ohtani out of the game but wouldn’t comment further on Ippei Mizuhara being fired, or the alleged circumstances around his dismissal.
“I can’t comment on that. Anything with that, the meeting, can’t comment,” Roberts said.
Roberts pencilled Ohtani into the lineup – he batted second as designated hitter for the second straight game – and doesn’t plan to alter the batting order.
“Shohei is ready,” Roberts said.
Mizuhara, the longtime interpreter for Ohtani, was fired by the Dodgers on Wednesday. Multiple reports traced the firing to wire transfers from Ohtani’s bank account that were sent to a Southern California bookmaking operation.
Mizuhara’s spokesperson said he did not gamble on baseball. However, betting on sports is illegal in California, and gambling on any sport is against MLB rules.
Ohtani’s attorneys accused Mizuhara of “massive theft” tied to illegal gambling with reports that at least US$4.5 million in wire transfers were sent to the bookmaking operation that is currently under federal investigation.
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