Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani is having another phenomenal season, but he is still making headlines for his ex-interpreter’s betting scandal.
Former Chicago White Sox All-Star and World Series-winning manager Ozzie Guillen spoke with Fernando Ballesteros of Pure Baseball about the former Dodgers MVP, translated and picked up by Newsweek. In it he said, "everyone knows that Shohei Ohtani took a chance (by gambling) and (Major League Baseball) protected him."
Guillen’s theory does contradict the case built by federal prosecutors and the own admission by Ohtani’s translator Ippei Mizuhara who pled guilty to placing wagers and using fraud to pay his debts. While some of his wagers were placed on DraftKings and FanDuel, his heavy losses came outside of the legal sports betting space, specifically through a bookie.
Mizuhara was sentenced to 57 months in prison earlier this year after asking the judge for 18 months.
“As I noted in my letter I want to say I’m truly sorry to Mr. Ohtani for what I have done,” Mizuhara said in February. “This mistake will impact me for the rest of my life and I am prepared to accept the consequences.”
Pete Rose’s reinstatement may change the landscape
Another question to consider is what a punishment for betting (as a player or coach) would be now that sports wagering has become legal and regulated throughout the U.S.
MLB commissioner Rob Manfred explained his reasoning for Pete Rose’s posthumous reinstatement.
"I think what people don't realize is Pete Rose wasn't disciplined by commissioner Giamatti," Manfred said. "He entered a settlement agreement with the league. At the time they entered into that settlement, he went on the permanently ineligible list …”
Earlier this week, MLB reinstated four players who were suspended for one year for betting on baseball.
