AdvertisementShortly after Mizuhara entered his plea Tuesday, MLB said it cleared Ohtani and closed its investigation into the matter. Ohtani accused Mizuhara of “massive theft,” alleging that Mizuhara had taken the money without his knowledge. Mizuhara had worked for Ohtani since the player’s arrival in the United States in 2018, when Ohtani hired Mizuhara as his de facto manager and interpreter, according to court documents. The investigation unearthed no evidence that Ohtani teamed with Mizuhara to place bets, nor that Mizuhara had placed any bets on baseball, prosecutors said. Mizuhara pleaded not guilty to bank and tax fraud charges on May 14, a formality ahead of the plea deal negotiated with federal prosecutors, Mizuhara’s attorney, Michael Freedman, said.

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Persons: — Ippei, Shohei, Mizuhara, ”, “, Mathew Bowyer, Ohtani, Martin Estrada, Michael Freedman, Frederic J . Brown Organizations: SANTA ANA, Calif, MLB, Los Angeles Dodgers, DOJ, Dodgers, Ohtani, Nippon, Ham Fighters, NPB Locations: SANTA, Japan, U.S, Ohtani, United States