Mar 3, 2024; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani bites on a New Era brand glove against the Colorado Rockies during a spring training game at Camelback Ranch-Glendale. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
MLB: Spring Training-Colorado Rockies at Los Angeles Dodgers
LOS ANGELES — Today is the day. Shohei Ohtani is ready to break his silence.
Monday will mark the first time that the Dodgers phenom will address the illegal gambling and theft allegation against his former interpreter and friend Ippei Mizuhara.
“Shohei Ohtani will not be taking questions from the media, I’m told. Instead, he will read a statement at 2:45 pm PT,” ESPN’s Alden Gonzales reports.
Ohtani is expected to make a statement but won’t answer questions. Gee, how exiting.
Ohtani’s decision to make a statement (during investigation) surprised even some team officials, though manager Dave Roberts said that Ohtani addressing the situation would be “good” to bring his perspective to a situation that has lacked real, clear-cut answers.
“I think it’s the right thing to do,” Roberts said. “I’m happy he’s going to speak, speak to what he knows and give his thoughts on the whole situation. I think it’ll give us a little bit more clarity.”
Ohtani generally keeps the press at arm’s length but that changed last Wednesday, when his representatives said the Dodgers star was the victim of “massive theft.
As of Sunday, Ohtani hadn’t addressed the situation with teammates, but spoke to some privately.
“I think that he’s had one-off conversations with players,” Roberts said.
The manager said he checked in with Ohtani to see how he’s doing.
“He’s kind of business as usual,” Roberts said.
