“Dude We’ve Got Your Back”: Dodgers Clubhouse Shields Shohei Ohtani Amidst Ippei Mizuhara Gambling Scandal

The Los Angeles Dodgers’ electrifying Unicorn, Shohei Ohtani, had quite a dramatic start to the season. He faced an unexpected curveball off the field when his former interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, was accused of embezzling a staggering $16 million (and more) from Ohtani’s bank account. Broken trust, and wired out money, triggered investigations by Major League Baseball and federal authorities. And in the thick of it all, it was yet to be determined if Ohtani was involved in sports gambling. 

Though the situation cast a dark shadow over the two-way phenom, within the Dodgers clubhouse, there was support. And the Dodgers pitcher Tyler Glasnow recently shared the team’s unwavering stance. This only indicated the bond among players. 

Tyler Glasnow reveals: Dodgers Clubhouse had Ohtani’s back

Glasnow’s words were, “There was nothing super formal, but we were all like ‘dude we’ve got your back.’ I think being in the clubhouse everyone knew right away clearly he had nothing to do with it.” Just this simple statement highlights the exceptional sense of camaraderie within the team.

The 30-year-old pitcher shared, “The first thing he did was ‘take my phone, figure this out.’ ..It didn’t seem that he wasn’t very stressed about it either. When you know that you’ve done nothing, it’s only a matter of time before they figure it all out.” This is completely in sync with what reports indicated too. Ohtani completely cooperated with the authorities and hence eventually, he was exonerated. 

Glasnow also shed light on some early red flags surrounding Mizuhara. He said, “We all knew early on that Ippei was doing some shady stuff.” So perhaps the team might have noticed concerning behavior from the 39-year-old interpreter. But, it was Ohtani’s calm demeanor that truly convinced them that nothing was wrong. It’s plenty evident the team had the 29-year-old’s back in the midst of a tumultuous off-field drama. 

Shohei Ohtani’s continued focus on the game

Though on one hand the investigation undoubtedly added a layer of stress within the team, Ohtani’s on-field performance remained unaffected. In fact, Glasnow even proudly stated, “He [Ohtani] continues to produce for the Dodgers.” After all, the 2x unanimous MVP’s statistics speak volumes. 

He has delivered a stellar batting average of .338, in conjunction with four home runs and 10 RBIs. Moreover, he has solidified his status as a vital force for the Dodgers. Thanks to the power of a supportive team, Ohtani’s experience remained calm and focussed. The Los Angeles Dodgers, despite facing a challenge together, are poised for a successful season.