The case that started with the former interpreter of the Japanese baseball player is now reaching a player with seven years of experience in the Major Leagues.
United States.- The office of the commissioner of the Major League Baseball (MLB) will deepen the investigation into the case of illegal betting that involved the interpreter of one of the most prominent figures of the competition, Shohei Ohtani. The revelations have grown to such an extent that they will now undertake an investigation against a former teammate of the Japanese baseball player.
David Fletcher will be investigated by the MLB after allegedly having made bets with an illegal bookmaker in Southern California. Various sources indicated in another report to ESPN that, the now minor league player with the Atlanta Braves, made bets on various sports, but not on baseball.
At the moment, it is unknown if there is any relationship between this case and that of Ippei Mizuhara, the former interpreter who stole almost USD 17m from Ohtani's bank accounts to pay off sports betting debts.
According to the policy of the Major Leagues, no player or team employee is allowed to make sports bets with illegal or foreign organizations; much less in baseball, even when the betting houses are legal. The penalty for violating this policy is at the discretion of the commissioner.
See also: An NBA player is investigated for a betting scandal
Fletcher and Ohtani were teammates at the Los Angeles Angels during the first six years of the Japanese in Anaheim. While Ohtani signed a 10-year, USD 700m contract with the Dodgers last winter, Fletcher was traded to the Braves and currently plays with the Triple-A affiliate.
