![MLB – Shohei Ohtani formally cleared by MLB of any involvement in gambling MLB – Shohei Ohtani formally cleared by MLB of any involvement in gambling](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/8fa0b86/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5440x2856+0+386/resize/1200x630!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F48%2Fba%2F49aef9e2481fb48f662052ed2bc2%2Fdodgers-reds-baseball-19853.jpg)
On the same day that Major League Baseball banned a player for life for betting on baseball, the league formally cleared its biggest star of any involvement in gambling.
An hour after former Shohei Ohtani performer Ippei Mizuhara pleaded guilty to bank and tax fraud charges Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Santa Ana, the league issued a statement acquitting Ohtani.
“Based on the thoroughness of the federal investigation that was made public, the information collected by MLB, and the criminal proceeding that was resolved unchallenged, MLB considers Shohei Ohtani a victim of fraud,” the statement said, “and this matter has been closed. .”
The player suspended for life was San Diego Padres utility Tucupita Marcano, who had bet on games in which his team played.
Four other players, including Oakland Athletics pitcher Michael Kelly and Arizona Diamondbacks minor leaguer Andrew Saalfrank, who pitched in the World Series last year, were suspended for one year for betting on games. baseball games in which their teams did not play.
The lifetime ban on baseball betting is the first since 1989, when Pete Rose agreed to such a ban while managing the Cincinnati Reds, and the first time since Major League Baseball opened its wallets to an avalanche of advertising and betting partnerships. sports betting. .
On Monday, Bloomberg reported that the Bally Sports channels, home to 12 MLB teams including the Angels, could soon be rebranded by FanDuel, which calls itself “the undisputed leader in online sports betting and daily fantasy sports in the United States.” ”.
The league said it was notified by “a legal sports betting operator” in March and corroborated the players’ bets with other sports books.
The league also said that none of the five players appeared in any games they had bet on and said no evidence, including betting data and interviews with players, indicates that the games were “compromised, influenced or manipulated in any way.”
The league continues to investigate former Angels infielder David Fletcher and his association with the illegal betting operation used by Mizuhara.
The federal government alleged that Mizuhara stole more than $17 million from Ohtani to pay an illegal gambling house. Mizuhara, who faces up to 33 years in prison, will be sentenced on October 25.
“Now that the investigation is complete, this full admission of guilt has brought important closure to me and my family,” Ohtani said in a statement. “I want to sincerely thank the authorities for so quickly completing their thorough and effective investigation and uncovering all the evidence.
“This has been an exceptionally challenging time, so I am especially grateful for my support team: my family, my agent, agency, attorneys and advisors along with the entire Dodgers organization, who have shown endless support throughout this entire process. .
“It’s time to close this chapter, move on and continue to focus on playing and winning games.”
The Dodgers also issued a statement saying the team would “put this entire matter behind us.”
Marcano placed 387 baseball bets worth more than $150,000, most of which occurred while he was on the disabled list with the Pittsburgh Pirates last season.
“In the end, Marcano lost all of his parlays involving the Pirates and only won 4.3% of all of his MLB-related bets overall,” the league said in a statement.
Kelly placed 10 baseball bets worth $99.22 in 2021, as a minor league player in the Houston Astros organization.
Saalfrank placed 29 baseball bets in 2021 and 2022, worth $445.87, as a minor leaguer in the Diamondbacks organization. Said MLB: “Saalfrank only won five of his 28 MLB-related bets and lost his $1.80 college bet.”
The other minor leaguers suspended for one year: Padres pitcher Jay Groome and Phillies infielder José Rodríguez. The league said none of the five suspended players had opted to appeal.
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