Addressing the allegations that his former interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, engaged in “massive theft,” Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani expressed his dismay, stating, “I am very sad and shocked that someone who I trusted has done this.”

Speaking to the media through a different interpreter on Monday, Ohtani acknowledged the challenging week faced by fans and the team, expressing gratitude for their patience during this difficult situation.

In his first public comments since the scandal involving his former interpreter unfolded, Ohtani firmly stated, “I never bet on baseball or any other sports, nor did I ever ask somebody to do so on my behalf.” He also denied any involvement with bookmakers for the purpose of sports betting.

Ohtani revealed that he first learned about Mizuhara’s gambling activities during a team meeting following the Dodgers’ opening game in South Korea last week. Although Mizuhara was speaking in English during the meeting, which Ohtani did not fully comprehend, he sensed that “something was amiss.”

According to Ohtani, before the meeting, Mizuhara had requested a private conversation with him afterward. It was during this subsequent discussion that Ohtani said he became aware of Mizuhara’s gambling debt.

“So up until that team meeting, I didn’t know that Ippei had a gambling addiction and was in debt,” Ohtani said, through another interpreter on Monday. “And obviously I never agreed to pay off the debt or to make payments to the bookmaker,” he added.

Full Timeline here of the entire Ohtani Gambling Scandal.

By Vincent Quezada

Photos courtesy of Associated Press