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6 months ago
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A federal probe into illegal bookmaking that has already spelled trouble for Shohei Ohtani's former interpreter Ippei Mizhuara has also uncovered the name of one of the star's ex-teammates.
Mizuhara has already pled guilty to his alleged crimes, which included stealing $17million form Ohtani's bank account to pay off gambling debts to Mathew Bowyer.
But according to ESPN, there were others with ties to the Los Angeles Angels that used the game illegal bookmaking operation to place bets on sports.
Per ESPN's sources, David Fletcher - a former Angels infielder who currently plays for the Atlanta Braves' Triple-A affiliate - placed bets with Bowyer's bookmaking scheme.
In addition, one of Fletcher's friends - Colby Schultz, a former minor league baseball player - was found to have placed bets on baseball. That includes Angels games that Fletcher played in while he was on the team.
Ex-Angels infielder David Fletcher reportedly used an illegal bookie operation to bet on sports
Fletcher used the same illegal bookie as Ohtani's former translator, Ippei Mizuhara (right)
When they were on the Angels, Fletcher (R) was described as one of Ohtani's closest friends
Fletcher has been described as one of Ohtani's closest friends in baseball and was his teammate on the Angels from 2018 to 2023.
Unlike Schultz, it's believed that Fletcher did not bet on baseball - but that he did bet on multiple other sports.
According to league rules, MLB players and employees are allowed to bet on sports other than baseball. However, they aren't allowed to do so with illegal bookmakers.
That could open Fletcher up to punishment from the league, as rules stipulate that betting with illegal bookies leaves players subject to discipline at the commissioner's discretion.
Rules further state that betting on baseball games a player doesn't participate in will result in a one-year ban. Anyone betting on games they do play in will be banned permanently.
Major League Baseball did not comment to ESPN. League sources did tell the outlet that Fletcher hadn't been previously investigated, but he is now expected to be.
Fletcher did not respond to ESPN's requests for comment. The Braves and the US Attorney's Office for the Central District of California both declined to comment.
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