Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani has finally broken his silence on the recent gambling scandal that has surrounded him. The scandal involves his former translator, Ippei Mizuhara, who allegedly stole $4.5 million from Ohtani to cover his own gambling debts.

Ohtani publicly addressed the situation for the first time on Monday, denying any involvement in sports betting. He emphasized that he never placed any sports bets himself, nor did he authorize anyone else to do so on his behalf. Instead, Ohtani claimed that Mizuhara had stolen money from him, rather than him knowingly paying off gambling debts.

As the investigations by Major League Baseball (MLB) and the IRS unfold, baseball legend Pete Rose has weighed in on the matter. Rose, who himself faced allegations of gambling on games he played in, suggested that Ohtani's involvement in the scandal might extend beyond what he is admitting. However, these speculations remain unverified.

Ohtani expressed his shock upon discovering Mizuhara's gambling addiction while they were in South Korea for a series against the San Diego Padres. He explained that he first learned of the media inquiry into potential sports betting involvement through his camp representatives. Mizuhara, who was later fired by the Dodgers, shared his side of the story with ESPN, which was then countered by Ohtani's attorneys portraying it as a "massive theft" rather than an act of assistance.

During a team meeting, Mizuhara revealed to Ohtani that he had a significant debt. It was at that moment that Ohtani realized that money was being sent to a bookmaker using his account. Ohtani promptly contacted his representatives to address the situation.

Despite the ongoing investigations, Ohtani remains focused on the upcoming season, with the Dodgers preparing to face the St. Louis Cardinals on Thursday. The team and Ohtani had hoped to start this new chapter without the cloud of controversy that now looms over him.

It should be noted that Ohtani recently became the highest-paid player in baseball, signing a lucrative $700 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers this offseason.

As the investigations proceed, it is crucial to await the findings before drawing any concrete conclusions about Ohtani's involvement in the gambling scandal.