The baseball world was rocked in mid-2024 when Shohei Ohtani’s name was unexpectedly linked to a gambling scandal involving his longtime interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara. That was a moment when the integrity of one of the sport’s most beloved global icons hung in the balance. But as you remember, authorities cleared Ohtani of any wrongdoing, placing full legal responsibility on Mizuhara.
The case is closed. However, even with the official verdict in place, not everyone seems to be on the same page. Doubts linger in, with certain corners of the public and the media still keeping the controversy alive despite Ohtani’s proven innocence. One of them is Ozzie Guillen, the former White Sox shortstop. He blasted MLB for covering up the issue, just for the sake of business interest!
On his X account, journalist Fernando Ballesteros quoted Guillen as saying, “Everyone knows Shohei Ohtani gambled and was protected by MLB.” (translated from Spanish)
Now, this is something capable of stirring huge controversy around the league.
Dicen que los borrachos, los niños y Ozzie Guillén, siempre dicen la verdad
El venezolano causa polémica en #MLB, luego de declarar:
“Todos saben que Shohei Ohtani apostó y lo protegieron (las Grandes Ligas)”.
¿Qué opinan? pic.twitter.com/XIPeMw0rPb
— Fernando Ballesteros (@purobeisbolfb) June 5, 2025
We all know Ohtani became the face of MLB the moment he signed that record-breaking contract ($700 million) back in 2023. So when the gambling scandal involving his interpreter came to light, there were rumors that MLB and the authorities acted fast to protect their biggest star.
While talking to Dismantle23, Guillen pointed out that with Ohtani being the global face of MLB, it was too risky to investigate the charges, as MLB’s goodwill was also associated with it. To push his point further, the 61-year-old illustrated the example of Venezuelan player Tucupita Marcano. He was banned for life on June 4, 2024, for betting on games, along with four other players.
So, the way Ohtani’s situation was handled looks very different from how Marcano’s was treated. And for some, like Guillen, that raises real questions about fairness and whether all players are truly held to the same standard.
For the unversed, the scandal centered around Ohtani’s former interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara. He admitted to stealing nearly $17 million from Ohtani’s bank account to cover his own gambling debts. Mizuhara pleaded guilty to bank fraud and tax fraud and was sentenced to 57 months in prison, along with an order to repay the stolen funds.
While Ohtani is freed from all charges, and authorities consider him a victim, rumors are still circling. But, he deserves no more defamation now, having been cleared by the American judicial system. On the field, in the meantime, the Japanese ace is entertaining the fans as always.
Shohei Ohtani is well past the rough patch
Yes, Ohtani was freed from the charges, but fans were skeptical whether he would be able to move on from the defamation. Well, he has. The Dodgers star won the MVP in 2024 and helped the team win the World Series against the Yankees. This season, it’s no different. Ohtani is going all guns blazing again.
He is having another standout season with the Dodgers in 2025. Currently, he’s leading the majors with 23 home runs, tied for the top spot, and boasts a .292 batting average along with 39 RBIs and an impressive 1.038 OPS, ranking third in the league. We have seen Ohtani perform like this before, haven’t we?
In May, Ohtani’s performances were particularly remarkable. He hit 15 home runs, tying a Dodgers record for the most in a single month, and earned the NL Player of the Month award with a .309/.398/.782 slash line. Now that his slugging performance is at its best, Ohtani is getting ready to return to the mound.
He has reportedly begun throwing sessions and is expected to return to pitching after the All-Star break, which would be a significant boost for the Dodgers’ rotation. The Japanese is well past all the unwarranted issues and is now on the brink of re-establishing himself as a two-way player once again after 2023.
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