Following the Los Angeles Dodgers 15-11 loss to the San Diego Padres on Thursday, superstar Shohei Ohtani did not appear in the clubhouse while the media was allowed in.
Ohtani did not appear in the Dodgers clubhouse during the time media was allowed to be in there. I would not say this qualified as a surprise.
— Chelsea Janes (@chelsea_janes) March 21, 2024
It doesn’t come as a surprise as Ohtani’s former interpreter Ippei Mizuhara was accused of “massive theft” by using the athlete’s money to place bets with an alleged illegal bookmaker.
Chelsea Janes of the Washington Post posted on X (formerly Twitter) again after the game describing the scene at Ohtani’s locker saying that, “Dodgers PR guarded Ohtani’s locker as he changed, then told reporters he would not be speaking.”
Dodgers PR guarded Ohtani’s locker as he changed, then told reporters he would not be speaking. When reporters surrounded his locker, asking if he had a second anyway, he walked by and out of the clubhouse saying what the Japanese reporters translated as “have a good night.”
— Chelsea Janes (@chelsea_janes) March 21, 2024
None of this is shocking in the aftermath of Wednesday’s news. ESPN reported that the theft was at least $4.5 million and both Ohtani and Mizuhara’s names are attached to a federal investigation.
According to Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic, Ohtani is not currently facing discipline, according to an MLB official, nor is he believed to be under active investigation by the league.
Jung Yeon-je/AFP/Getty Images
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts “wouldn’t comment on what Ippei Mizuhara told the team last night, according to MLB.com, noting, “That will ultimately be up to Shohei Ohtani.”
Ardaya wrote that he spoke to multiple people who were in the room when Mizuhara addressed the team, saying the interpreter stood in front of the clubhouse and addressed the news that would become public the next day.
He also wrote that the meeting was brief, and came together abruptly, according to multiple people in the room. They described a “weird,” “strange” scene that included Dodgers owner Mark Walter and CEO Stan Kasten.
#Dodgers manager Dave Roberts wouldn’t comment on what Ippei Mizuhara told the team last night. That will ultimately be up to Shohei Ohtani. We don’t know yet when he’ll talk to the media.
— Juan Toribio (@juanctoribio) March 21, 2024
The next steps remain murky, according to Ardaya. According to a league source, MLB hasn’t been contacted by prosecutors. The MLBPA declined to comment, and Ohtani’s agent, Nez Balelo, declined multiple requests for comment after being present at Gocheok Sky Dome much of the week.
Ohtani signed a 10-year, $700 million contract with the Dodgers this offseason with $680 million of deferred money. He finished Thursday’s game 1-for-5 with a single and an RBI.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.