By Dennis Romero and Mirna Alsharif -
NBC News
Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani spoke to the media Monday for the first time since his former interpreter became embroiled in a sports betting scandal.
Ippei Mizuhara, 39, was fired last week as Ohtani's translator after the Japanese phenom's lawyers said the baseball star was the victim of a "massive robbery."
The IRS is conducting an investigation into Mizuhara and Major League Baseball is conducting its own internal probe.
“
I am very sad and shocked
that someone I trusted did this,” Ohtani said Monday.
Shohei Ohtani during a spring training game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on March 24, 2024. Brian Rothmuller / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The pitcher, who appeared in a Dodgers jersey and cap, expressed his disappointment with his former interpreter, whom he blamed for the controversy that includes accusations that Mizuhara stole money from him
to place bets
.