Because the federal investigation into the Wayne Nix unlawful playing ring expands, Main League Baseball is opening its first investigation. The league to this point has declined to do its personal investigation into Shohei Ohtani or his ex-interpreter Ippei Mizuhara.
However ESPN Friday (17 Could) linked former Angels infielder David Fletcher and ex-minor leaguer Cody Shultz to the Southern California unlawful betting ring. Monday morning, ESPN reported that MLB is opening a betting investigation into Fletcher, now within the Atlanta Braves farm system.
Fletcher reportedly guess with Mathew Bowyer, the identical unlawful bookmaker Mizuhara used. Fletcher didn’t guess on baseball, in accordance with ESPN.
His highschool good friend, Shultz, reportedly did, although, together with on Angels video games by which Fletcher performed. Based on ESPN, Schultz is the particular person recognized as “Bookmaker 3” within the Mizuhara grievance.
Main League Baseball has not formally acknowledged an investigation. It beforehand declined to open one on Ohtani, after the federal authorities referred to Ohtani as a victim. The league beforehand stated the federal authorities had extra sources obtainable, so it might wait to see what was uncovered.
MLB: Betting OK, simply not on baseball
MLB guidelines enable gamers to guess on sports activities, simply not baseball. Sports activities betting is prohibited in California, which suggests if Fletcher or Schultz did guess with Bowyer, they broke the regulation. If Fletcher or Schultz guess on baseball, both would face a lifetime ban, per league guidelines.
MLB’s gambling policy requires a minimal one-year suspension for a participant who “operates or works for” an unlawful bookmaker. The penalty for betting with an unlawful bookie is on the commissioner’s discretion.
Fletcher and Ohtani had been teammates from 2018 to 2023 and Fletcher instructed ESPN that he and Ohtani had been “good associates”. Throughout that span, the Angels didn’t have a profitable season and didn’t break .500. In 2021, Fletcher signed a $26 million five-year contract extension, however the Angels then traded him to the Braves.
Mizuhara to vary plea in June
Fletcher beforehand instructed ESPN that he was on the poker recreation the place Mizuhara met Bowyer however denied introducing the 2. Mizuhara plans to plead responsible for stealing practically $17m from Ohtani to repay playing money owed incurred with Bowyer.
He pled “not guilty” last week, however a change-of-plea listening to is ready for 4 June. Mizuhara is charged with financial institution fraud and signing a fraudulent tax return. The utmost penalties for his crimes are 33 years in jail and $1.25m in fines.
The federal betting investigation stemming from the Nix playing ring is wide-reaching. Former Dodger Yaiel Puig and ex-Chicago Bull Scottie Pippen have been ensnared. LeBron James’ manager also bet with the Nix ring.
Fletcher and Schultz grew up in Orange County, the identical county Bowyer and Mizuhara reside in. He performed faculty baseball at Loyola Marymount in Los Angeles and the Angels drafted him within the sixth spherical in 2015. He made his MLB debut on 13 June 2018.
Fletcher performed 5 video games for the Braves this season between 16 April and 25 April. He went 2-for-8 and was despatched again to Triple A Gwinnet.
