Arrr, me hearties! One o' Shohei Ohtani's scallywags be accused o' makin' illegal sports bets, arrr! Shiver me timbers!
2024-05-18
Arrr, the scallywag David Fletcher, who sailed with Shohei Ohtani on the Los Angeles Angels ship, be caught makin' unlawful wagers through the same bookkeeper as the former interpreter of the star! Aye, seems like these landlubbers be up to no good!
David Fletcher, an MLB infielder with the Atlanta Braves, was reported to have placed bets on sports through the same bookmaker as Shohei Ohtani’s former trainer, Ippei Mizuhara. Fletcher and Ohtani were teammates on the Los Angeles Angels from 2018 to 2023 before both players left the team. Ohtani signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers while Fletcher joined the Braves and was later sent to their Triple-A affiliate.According to ESPN, Fletcher made wagers with bookie Matthew Bowyer but did not bet on baseball games. However, a friend of Fletcher’s, Colby Schultz, allegedly placed bets on baseball games, including Angels games when Fletcher was on the team. MLB, the Braves, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office declined to comment on the situation.Players and employees are allowed to bet on sports other than baseball, but using illegal bookmakers could result in punishment from the commissioner's office. Ohtani also faced a betting scandal earlier in the season when his former interpreter was accused of stealing money from his bank account. Mizuhara pleaded not guilty to charges of stealing nearly $17 million from Ohtani.Despite the controversy, Fletcher maintained that he and Ohtani were good friends. The situation remains ongoing as authorities continue to investigate the matter.