Shohei Ohtani’s Silence on Ippei Mizuhara Incident Speaks Volumes, Dodgers Star Avoids Press as Investigation Continues

Shohei Ohtani aka two-way phenom, caught himself in a firestorm off the field. Time and again, he has dazzled the crowds with his monstrous home runs and pitching displays. But unfortunately this time, certain allegations involving him and his dear friend and interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara have caught his fans off guard. There’s been a “massive theft”! But how and why? Nobody knows yet. 

The situation is unfolding at a dizzying speed. Reports emerged on Wednesday accusing the man entrusted with facilitating Ohtani’s presence in the English-speaking media of using the Unicorn’s money to gamble with an unregistered bookmaker. The sum was a staggering $4.5 million. What transpired in the early stages of this newsbreaking has changed into a completely different narrative. One word to describe the common emotion of fans? Stunned!

Why is Shohei Ohtani Silent?

But what has come off as unexpected even more is Ohtani’s absence from the press conference. A deafening silence from him in this scenario raises eyebrows. During media availability, reporters located at the Los Angeles Dodgers’ clubhouse could not find the superstar. Chelsea Janes, reporter for the Washington Post, tweeted, “Ohtani did not appear in the Dodgers clubhouse during the time media was allowed to be in there. I would not say this qualified as a surprise.” 

As reported by the New York Post, several reporters were waiting to “catch Ohtani coming out of the dugout” as other Blue Boys took the field. The agenda for the day was stretching and batting practice as a process of gearing up for the second game of the Seoul Series at Gocheok Sky Dome against the San Diego Padres. But there was no Ohtani. 

The 29-year-old is known for occasionally skipping such sessions. However, his current silence carries the additional weight of the ongoing controversy. His perspective is imperative, and the media awaits to hear from him to piece this complex puzzle together. Having said that, it’s time to look at how this story unfolded. 

Read More: Baseball World Shocked as Shohei Ohtani Faces Ippei Mizuhara Scandal, Fans Divided as Dodgers Fire Longtime Interpreter

The Los Angeles Dodgers’ Confusion Amid Changing Narratives

Reports suggesting that the 2x Unanimous MVP had himself transferred the funds to cover Mizuhara’s debts sustained a blow. This narrative took a sharp turn when Ohtani’s legal team vehemently denied all the claims. They flipped the picture around, stating that Ohtani was a victim of a high degree of financial crime. With that, they called for an intervention from the authorities. 

Read More: Amidst Shohei Ohtani’s Ippei Mizuhara Crisis, Will the Dodgers Hire a New Interpreter for the Two-Way Star?

Adding yet another layer of confusion is the fate of Mizuhara. The Dodgers cut ties with the interpreter promptly following the accusations. Is he rightfully held responsible? Or is he just a spec in a much bigger, complicated case? The baseball world waits with bated breath. One can only wait until Ohtani breaks his silence and addresses the issue head-on.