MLB’s Response to Ohtani’s Gambling Scandal: Can it Prevent Future Scandals?

On Monday, superstar Shohei Ohtani announced that he would be available to reporters at 5:45 p.m. ET in the Dodgers clubhouse. However, the definition of “available” in his case appears to mean that he will be reading a statement prepared by lawyers and P.R. specialists, and will not be answering any questions. This story is being closely followed because it revolves around gambling, rather than baseball. The situation involving Ohtani has a unique quality due to the fact that the gambling activities of his former interpreter occurred in California, where gambling is illegal. It’s possible (if not likely) that players in other sports, including the NFL, may also be involved in similar activities through legal gambling apps. The handling of Ohtani’s situation by MLB could provide insight into how to avoid potential scandals involving high-profile players in the future.