Everything Shohei Ohtani said regarding Ippei Muzuhara gambling scandal

Last December, three-time All Star and two-time AL MVP Shohei Ohtani signed the biggest contract in North American sports history to join the Los Angeles Dodgers. But just weeks into his tenure with the Dodgers, the two-way star is in the middle of an investigation by MLB and law enforcement involving allegations of $4.5 million in gambling debts by owed his longtime interpreter and friend, Ippei Mizuhara.

It's the sport's biggest scandal since the Houston Astros' sign-stealing incident came to light in 2019. Ohtani spoke to media this week about the allegations through a new interpreter. Here's everything you need to know:

Shohei Ohtani's statement

Ohtani spoke to reporters for 12 minutes yesterday afternoon at Dodger Stadium through interpreter Will Ireton. His message - through a PowerPoint presentation - was simple: he had no idea what was happening.

He stated he had no knowledge, involvement, or idea that his interpreter and friend Mizuhara had a gambling addiction that racked up millions of dollars in debt.

“I’ve never bet on baseball or any other sport or ever asked anyone to do it on my behalf," Ohtani said. “I never went through a bookmaker... Up until that team meeting (last week), I didn’t know that Ippei had a gambling addiction and was in debt."

He stated he never heard of, spoke to, or met Mathew Bowyer, the target of a federal investigation that brought this debt to light. He said he did not give Mizuhara permission to use his money to cover a debt and is accusing his longtime friend of theft and fraud.

“Ippei has been stealing money from my account and has told lies," Ohtani said. “I never agreed to pay off the debt or make payments to the bookmaker."

Ohtani said he will cooperate with both federal and MLB investigators but will not address it again until the investigation is complete.

Ohtani statement:Dodgers star says he was duped by his ex-interpreter, blindsided by gambling allegations

Will Shohei Ohtani be punished?

Possibly. None of the bets were made on baseball so MLB was originally not going to investigate Ohtani but now the league is launching an investigation.

If the investigation proves he wasn't involved, he won't be punished. If it proves he knew about the gambling, commissioner Rob Manfred could give him a penalty, likely a fine if no bets were made on baseball.

Ohtani's former Los Angeles Angels teammates told USA TODAY Sports they had no idea Ohtani or Mizuhara had any interest in other sports outside.

“I’m just shocked, and I’m as curious as anyone to see what comes out," Angels outfielder Mickey Moniak said. “I have zero idea what’s going to transpire, or what has transpired over how many years. But great friends, great people. Ippei was as part of the team as anyone else."

The last baseball player to be disciplined for gambling was in 2015. A league investigation revealed Miami Marlins pitcher Jarred Cosart placed illegal sports bets. He was fined without suspension because he did not bet on baseball.

If a player bets on baseball games in which he's not involved, he faces an automatic year-long ban. If a player bets on baseball games in which he is involved, that is a lifetime ban.

Formal process begins:MLB investigating allegations involving Shohei Ohtani, interpreter Ippei Mizuhara

Who is Ippei Mizuhara?

Mizuhara is Ohtani's friend and now former training partner and interpreter who's been with the two-time MVP since his debut season in 2018. He's often considered his manager and when Ohtani signed his record-breaking deal in December, the Dodgers quickly signed Mizuhara as well.

Mizuhara moved to California from Japan at age seven and speaks both English and Japanese fluently. According to Angels players, Mizuhara was popular in the clubhouse but gave no hints that he was gambling outside of playing poker.

Mizuhara previously had a tenuous tie to the New York Yankees. The Boston Red Sox have refuted claims that Mizuhara worked for the team in the early 2010s.

Ohtani gambling scandal timeline

On Wednesday, March 20, the Dodgers fired Mizuhara stemming from allegations involving theft and illegal gambling. These allegations arose when at least $4.5 million in wire transfers was sent to a bookmaking operation run by Bowyer from Ohtani's bank account. That operation is under federal investigation and Ohtani's name appeared in the investigation.

Ohtani's lawyers said in a statement March 20 that "In the course of responding to recent media inquiries, we discovered that Shohei has been the victim of a massive theft, and we are turning the matter over to the authorities."

Mizuhara initially said that he'd asked Ohtani to cover a $4.5 million debt, then backtracked and changed his story to say that Ohtani had no knowledge of these debts and Ohtani had never transferred money to Bowyer's associate. He added that he did not know the bets were illegal - despite living in California, where sports gambling is illegal.

On Friday, Major League Baseball's department of investigations said in a statement that it launched a probe into allegations involving Ohtani and Mizuhara. Bowyer is facing multiple felony charges but no charges have been set against Mizuhara yet at time of publishing.

Ohtani's statement is the latest development.

When is Shohei Ohtani's next game?

The Dodgers play the Angels in spring training Tuesday at 9:07 p.m. ET. The Dodgers begin the regular season Thursday at home against the St. Louis Cardinals.