LOS ANGELES — MLB superstar Shohei Ohtani plans to speak to the media Monday for the first time since the illegal gambling and theft allegations involving the Los Angeles Dodgers’ new addition and his interpreter emerged during the team’s trip to South Korea.
The interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, was fired by the Dodgers last week when the team opened MLB’s 2024 regular season with two games against the San Diego Padres in Seoul, South Korea.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts endorsed Ohtani addressing the matter publicly, saying the 29-year-old from Japan made his own decision to do so.
“It’s the right thing to do,” Roberts said. “I’m happy he’s going to speak, and speak to what he knows and give his thoughts on the whole situation. I think it will give us all a little bit more clarity.”
Mizuhara was let go from the team after reports from the Los Angeles Times and ESPN about his alleged ties to an illegal bookmaker and claims from Ohtani’s attorneys that the Japanese star had been the victim of a “massive theft.”