Shohei Ohtani Gambling Scandal: Donaghy Weighs In

Former NBA referee Tim Donaghy believes Shohei Ohtani knew about his interpreter's gambling addiction and may have been involved in betting on his own games. Donaghy's comments come as the interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, faces charges of bank fraud and filing a false tax return.

Disgraced Former NBA Ref Tim Donaghy Believes Shohei Ohtani Knew About Gambling Scandal

Disgraced former NBA referee Tim Donaghy, who served prison time for betting on games he officiated, has weighed in on the Shohei Ohtani gambling scandal, expressing skepticism about the two-way baseball player's claims of ignorance.

Speaking on OutKick's "Hot Mic," Donaghy stated, "Heck no," when asked if there was any possibility that Ohtani was unaware of Mizuhara's gambling addiction. He further accused Major League Baseball of "sweeping this under the rug as quickly as possible" to protect Ohtani's image.

"You look at that guy and what he's done for baseball globally and the fans he's attracted around the world, the last thing they want is for him to be somebody who's involved in betting on his own games and maybe doing things that he wasn't supposed to do," Donaghy explained.

Donaghy also expressed doubt that Mizuhara, who investigators found placed nearly 19,000 bets between December 2021 and January 2024, never wagered on baseball. He believes Mizuhara's addiction extended to Ohtani's games and that the player was complicit in the scheme.

"When you look at the amount of bets he was placing, obviously he had some type of addiction. ... There's no doubt in my mind that he not only bet on baseball, he bet on Ohtani's game, and I think Ohtani was right there with him knowing what he was doing," Donaghy asserted.

Ohtani has vehemently denied any involvement in gambling, claiming he has "never" bet on sports and that Mizuhara's claims he was voluntarily paying off gambling debts are "a complete lie." However, Donaghy is not convinced, citing Ohtani's close relationship with Mizuhara, who had access to his bank accounts and withdrew money to finance his gambling.

Federal authorities estimate Mizuhara stole approximately $17 million from Ohtani, who will be repaid as part of the interpreter's plea agreement. Mizuhara is expected to plead guilty to one count of bank fraud and one count of subscribing to a false tax return.

Donaghy is not the only one who believes Ohtani may have had a role in the scandal. MLB's all-time hits leader, Pete Rose, who also has a history of gambling, made a suggestive comment when the scandal broke, saying, "Well, back in the '70s and '80s, I wish I'd have had an interpreter. I'd be scot-free."

Ohtani is currently the highest-paid player in MLB after signing a historic 10-year, $700 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Despite the scandal, he remains a popular figure in baseball and is expected to return to his position as one of the league's top players in 2024.