Shohei Ohtani, Dodgers eager to move beyond translator’s betting scandal

LOS ANGELES — Another day passed and Shohei Ohtani and the Dodgers said they had moved one more step beyond the betting scandal involving former longtime translator Ippei Mizuhara, who surrendered to federal authorities on Friday on charges of stealing $16 million from the superstar player.

“I’m very grateful for the Dept. of Justice’s investigation,” Ohtani told the Los Angeles Times in Japanese before the Dodgers played host to the San Diego Padres to begin a nine-game homestand. “For me, personally, this marks a break from this and I’d like to focus on baseball.”

Mizuhara was charged Thursday with stealing the money from Ohtani’s bank account in order to cover gambling debts placed with an illegal Orange County sports betting operation. Ohtani’s brief statement to the Times was his first public comment since Mizuhara was charged.

The bank fraud charges against Mizuhara and his court appearance Friday provided the Dodgers with “clarity” as Manager Dave Roberts phrased it. “I think, ultimately, a decision was made and (Ohtani) was exonerated,” Roberts continued. “I’m just happy it’s behind us. I hope it’s all behind us.”

Roberts said the scandal, which broke while the Dodgers played the Padres in a season-opening set of games in Seoul, South Korea, last month, had not been a distraction but he also said the Dodgers had gained greater access to Ohtani the man and the player without Mizuhara serving as translator.

“He’s handled it with flying colors,” Roberts said of Ohtani. “He’s done a great job of just focusing on baseball and not letting it be a distraction for him, and our guys, as well, have handled it really well and not letting it affect their play. Guys are pretty in tune with what’s going on, but it hasn’t affected the clubhouse or how we play.”

Ohtani was hitting .333 (21 for 63) with three home runs and eight RBIs going into Friday’s game, and his throwing routine as he returns from a second Tommy John surgery was progressing on schedule, by all accounts. The Dodgers were 10-5, first in the NL West, before hosting the second-place Padres (7-8).

Ohtani hit a solo homer in the first inning – the 175th of his career, which tied him with Hideki Matsui for the most by a Japanese-born player in Major League Baseball history. Asked if he expected Ohtani and the Dodgers to catch fire with the betting scandal increasingly behind them, Roberts cautioned against expecting too much.

“I wouldn’t say ignite,” Roberts said. “I thought that once (Mizuhara) was removed and I used the term buffer, I thought Shohei was way more accessible. I thought he was more accessible to everyone. I thought that freed him up. But I think we’re playing fine baseball right now.”

BUEHLER UPDATE

Right-hander Walker Buehler made a rehab start with Class-A Rancho Cucamonga and was scheduled to make another one next Thursday either there or at triple-A Oklahoma City, according to Roberts.

Buehler was expected to throw about 80 pitches for the Quakes in his third rehab start on Friday night, but he was hit on the pitching hand by a comebacker in the second inning. He got checked out by trainers and stayed in to finish the inning, but he came out of the game after 27 pitches. He allowed a run on three hits and a walk without a strikeout.

Buehler’s season debut with the Dodgers remains something of a moving target.

“He’s trending in the right way,” Roberts said, sounding an optimistic tone.”We’re really close. I’m very excited for Walker. I know he’s chomping at the bit.”