MLB investigating Shohei Ohtani's former teammate for gambling allegations

It was reported on Friday that former Los Angeles Angels infielder (and teammate of Shohei Ohtani) David Fletcher placed wagers through the same illegal bookie as Ohtani's former interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara.

ESPN's T.J. Quinn reported on Monday that MLB has now opened an investigation into those allegations.

Fletcher — now a pitcher and infielder in the Atlanta Braves' minor-league system — spent six seasons as teammates with Ohtani and the Angels from 2018-23.

ESPN's Tisha Thompson wrote on Friday that Fletcher bet on sports — but not baseball — with Mathew Bowyer, a Southern California bookmaker.

Per Quinn, former minor leaguer Colby Schultz (a "close friend" of Fletcher's) also bet with Bowyer and wagered on baseball, including games that Fletcher played in during his Angels days.

"Government cooperation will be crucial in a case like this where we don't have evidence," Quinn's MLB source told him.

Quinn added that league investigators will request an interview with Fletcher "at some point, but he has the right to refuse cooperation if he can claim he could be the subject of a criminal investigation."

According to Quinn's report, his source told him that Fletcher could continue playing through the investigation.

"MLB sources have said that if a player bet illegally but not on baseball, it's likely he would receive a fine rather than a suspension. Any player connected to any betting on baseball games could face up to a lifetime ban," the ESPN senior writer reported.

The former sixth-round pick out of Loyola Marymount University revealed to ESPN in March that he was "present at the 2021 poker game in San Diego where Mizuhara first met Bowyer," per Quinn, but Fletcher added that he "never placed a bet himself with Bowyer's organization."

The Los Angeles Dodgers fired Mizuhara in March after it was reported that he allegedly stole $17M from Ohtani to pay off gambling debts. Mizuhara turned himself into federal authorities and was charged with bank fraud on April 12.

Lionsgate Television announced in early May that they were developing a scripted series based on the scandal.