MLB commish makes first comments on Shohei Ohtani investigation

MLB commissioner Rob Manfred spoke publicly for the primary time Thursday concerning the league’s investigation into Shohei Ohtani’s connection to former interpreter Ippei Mizuhara.

In an look on MLB Community’s “Excessive Warmth with Chris Russo” Thursday, Manfred admitted that the investigation into the Ohtani scenario can be an advanced one. The league is wanting into the scenario on the similar time the federal authorities is conducting its personal investigation, stopping full cooperation between the 2 entities, not less than initially. 

Manfred did say, nonetheless, that he hopes the league’s investigation proves to be a short one.

“It’s actually tough for the federal authorities to cooperate with us absolutely after they have their very own ongoing investigation so I feel that is one the place we’ll need to proceed on our personal,” Manfred stated, via ESPN. “We by no means have the sort of authority that regulation enforcement individuals have however we handle to get these investigations carried out and discover the information and I’m certain we are going to on this one.

“I hope [it’s] brief, however I simply don’t know.”

Ohtani is dealing with questions concerning playing money owed that Mizuhara gathered to an unlawful bookmaker, and whether or not Ohtani knowingly helped repay these money owed. Ohtani has denied betting on baseball and claimed Mizuhara stole cash from him to pay again his money owed.

MLB opened an investigation into the allegations final week, although most doubt Ohtani will see any serious consequences, not less than from the league itself.