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The Los Angeles Dodgers have swiftly appointed Will Ireton as Shohei Ohtani's new interpreter, following the dismissal of Ippei Mizuhara amidst a gambling scandal. Ireton, previously the team's manager of performance operations, is no stranger to assisting Japanese players, having worked with Kenta Maeda in the past.
During the Dodgers' second game of the season against the Padres in Seoul, Ireton was seen by Ohtani's side, stepping in to help relay coaches' instructions to Japanese pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Despite the distractions, Ohtani managed a solid performance, going 1-for-5 with a run and an RBI, narrowly missing a home run in the seventh inning.
The controversy surrounding Mizuhara erupted after Ohtani's lawyers accused him of embezzling millions of dollars from the star player to pay gambling debts with an alleged illegal bookmaker. This accusation led to Mizuhara's swift dismissal from the Dodgers.
The scandal rocked the MLB
Mizuhara, when approached by ESPN's Tisha Thompson, itted to gambling but denied any connection between Ohtani and the illegal activities, stating, "I want everyone to know Shohei had zero involvement in betting."
The scandal has sent shockwaves through the baseball community and comes at a critical time for Ohtani, who recently signed a groundbreaking 10-year, $700 million deal with the Dodgers.
As Ohtani and manager Dave Roberts remain silent on the issue, fans and pundits eagerly await their response to the unfolding scandal. Before the second game against the Pads, Roberts reiterated that he can't comment on the matter, but assured Shohei was ready to take play.
The Dodgers want Ohtani to leave the controversy behind
Meanwhile, the Dodgers are focused on ing Ohtani and ensuring minimal disruption to his performance on the field. With Ireton now by his side, Ohtani is expected to continue his dominance in the MLB, leaving behind the controversy that has rocked the Dodgers organization.
The Dodgers' quick action in appointing Ireton demonstrates their commitment to managing this crisis and protecting their star player. As the season progresses, all eyes will be on Ohtani to see how he navigates this challenging period in his career.