Ozzie Guillen Says MLB Shielded Shohei Ohtani in Betting Case

Shohei Ohtani continues to dominate on the field, but off the field, talk around his former interpreter’s betting scandal has not faded. This time, it is Ozzie Guillen who has added fuel to the fire.

Speaking to Fernando Ballesteros of Pure Baseball, the former White Sox manager alleged that Major League Baseball may have covered for Ohtani. “Everyone knows that Shohei Ohtani took a chance (by gambling) and (Major League Baseball) protected him,” Guillen said, according to a translated version picked up by Newsweek.

Good to know

• Ozzie Guillen’s statement contradicts the federal investigation findings.
• Ippei Mizuhara admitted guilt and was sentenced to nearly five years in prison.
• MLB recently reinstated four players who had been suspended for betting.

Federal prosecutors have maintained that Ohtani’s former interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, acted alone. Mizuhara admitted to placing bets and misusing Ohtani’s funds to pay off gambling debts. He used illegal bookmakers as well as licensed platforms like DraftKings and FanDuel, though most losses came through unregulated channels.

In court, Mizuhara asked for leniency, requesting an 18-month sentence. Instead, the judge handed down 57 months. In his statement to the court, he said, “As I noted in my letter I want to say I’m truly sorry to Mr. Ohtani for what I have done. This mistake will impact me for the rest of my life and I am prepared to accept the consequences.”

MLB’s internal review found no evidence implicating Ohtani. Despite that, Guillen’s comment has stirred public speculation again.

Context Around Betting and MLB’s Current Policy

Legal sports betting continues to raise new questions for baseball. With the landscape changing quickly, the way MLB handles gambling-related violations is also evolving.

Commissioner Rob Manfred recently discussed the long-standing Pete Rose ban. Manfred pointed out that Rose was not formally punished by then-commissioner Bart Giamatti but had agreed to a lifetime ban through a settlement. “He entered a settlement agreement with the league,” Manfred explained.

Meanwhile, MLB reinstated four players earlier this week who had served one-year suspensions for betting on games. The move suggests MLB is re-evaluating how it treats gambling cases in the age of legal sports betting.