Shohei Ohtani simply broke his silence on the playing scandal surrounding his former interpreter — and the Dodgers star was adamant he by no means positioned any sports activities bets.

The 29-year-old addressed the media on Monday afternoon for the primary time since Ippei Mizuhara was fired for allegedly utilizing among the baseball participant’s funds to gamble with an unlawful bookmaker.

Ohtani instructed reporters by means of his new translator, Will Ireton, that he had no concept what was happening with the state of affairs up till a workforce assembly following the Dodgers’ first recreation of the season final week in Korea.

He stated Ippei was stealing cash from his account and utilizing it to repay money owed … after which mendacity to him and others about Ohtani’s involvement in all of it.

“I am very saddened and shocked that somebody who I trusted has carried out this,” Ohtani stated.

Ohtani — who did not take any questions in the course of the assembly with reporters — added that he “by no means agreed to repay the debt or make funds to the bookmaker.”

As we beforehand reported, Mizuhara — who labored as Ohtani’s translator for practically a decade — was fired by LA again on March 20 … after Ohtani’s attorneys accused him of stealing from the Dodgers star and playing with the cash.

The allegations had been fascinating to say the least … contemplating that, initially, Mizuhara had stated in an interview with ESPN that Ohtani gave him the funds to be able to cowl his playing debt.

Nonetheless, Mizuhara recanted that story hours later.

“I need everybody to know Shohei had zero involvement in betting,” Mizuhara stated. “I need individuals to know I didn’t know this was unlawful. I discovered my lesson the onerous manner. I’ll by no means do sports activities betting ever once more.”

Mizuhara first started working with Ohtani after the baseball participant signed with the Angels following a historic profession in Japan. He was employed by the Dodgers simply after the two-way participant inked a 10-year, $700 million contract with LA this offseason.