Overview

• Shohei Ohtani's interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, was fired after being implicated in a $4.5 million illegal sports betting operation.
• Investigation revealed wire transfers from Ohtani's account to a California betting organization under federal probe.
• MLB's embrace of legal gambling comes under scrutiny as the scandal unfolds, highlighting potential risks of sports betting.
• No charges have been filed against Ohtani, who is not under criminal or MLB investigation.
• The scandal emerges as MLB seeks to expand its global audience and integrate betting into the fan experience.