MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred hoping for 'short' Shohei Ohtani gambling investigation as new season begins

Fox News Flash top sports headlines are here. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com.

MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred is hoping the league’s investigation into Shohei Ohtani and former Los Angeles Dodgers interpreter Ippei Mizuhara is swift. 

As MLB kicked off the 2024 campaign, the biggest story line heading into the season is last week's bombshell. Ohtani alleges Mizuhara stole $4.5 million from him to cover gambling debts. 

Ohtani issued a statement this week saying he has never bet on baseball or any other sport and had no clue what Mizuhara was doing until the team’s Seoul Series exhibition games against the San Diego Padres in South Korea last week. 

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani before a spring training game against the Los Angeles Angels in Los Angeles March 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

"Given the way the story unfolded, it’s important in terms of assuring our fans about the integrity of the game that we verify the things that Mr. Ohtani has said, and it’s really that simple," Manfred told MLB Network. 

MLB and the IRS opened their own investigations into this matter. The IRS confirmed Mizuhara and the alleged illegal bookmaker he had debts with, Orange County, California, native Mathew Bowyer, are both under criminal investigation. 

PETE ROSE MAKES EYE-POPPING COMMENT ABOUT SHOHEI OHTANI AMID GAMBLING SCANDAL WITH EX-TRANSLATOR\

"It’s really difficult for the federal authorities to cooperate with us fully when they have their own ongoing investigation, so I think this is one where we’ll have to proceed on our own," Manfred said. 

"We never have the kind of authority that law enforcement people have, but we manage to get these