ESPN Analyst Defends Shohei Ohtani For Feigning Ignorance While Having $16 Million Stolen From Him

The Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher and hitter Shohei Ohtani made it out of the controversy. But he still finds himself embroiled in lingering talks. After all, his former interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, was accused of embezzling $16 million yet, he had no clue about it. While the alleged crime itself is a serious issue, one thing has sparked debate. Was there really no role that Ohtani played, as reports suggest?

While some have questioned whether the phenom was just a “victim”, there is another angle that has erupted. Perhaps, due to the low level of English proficiency, Ohtani remained completely unaware, and a lot was lost in translation, including $16 million.

In Shohei Ohtani’s Defense..

Jeff Passan who appeared on the Pat McAfee Show said, “I think it’s reasonable to say if you spend as much time around this guy as you do could he really hide this for as long as he allegedly did…” Moreover, there have been others who have come to Ohtani’s defense, arguing that folks in tough situations could really be adept at hiding their problems. 

He added, “…human beings are really good at hiding things and I don’t think we should look past the ability for people who are in clearly a terrible situation to try and hide it from those about whom they you know are supposed to care.” This gives people some food for thought about what might have transpired behind the scenes before the news broke to the public. 

Though Ohtani has been almost exonerated after being tagged a “victim” there still are some unanswered questions. Whether Ohtani was truly oblivious or not is yet to be revealed. But evidence and the Unicorn’s complete cooperation in the entire investigation only states that he was perhaps unaware. 

The next step? Trust restoration!

Well, the Ippei Mizuhara controvery raises some key questions about trust and communication. Not to mention the potential vulnerability of international players within the realm of Major League Baseball. Irrespective of all the discussion with varying angles, the Dodgers would prioritize rebuilding trust within the organization. 

There is no doubt that Shohei Ohtani is a generational talent and despite the chaos off the field, he has delivered relentlessly on the field. Clearly, the baseball world deserves to see him shine both on and off the field. While his former interpreter is on the verge of a 30-year sentence, Ohtani continues to shine and stand out with his new team.