Major League Baseball has launched a formal investigation into the illegal gambling and theft allegations surrounding Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani and his former interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara. The investigation comes after reports surfaced that at least $4.5 million was transferred from Ohtani's bank account to a bookmaking operation under federal investigation. Ohtani's lawyers accused Mizuhara of a "massive theft," leading to his firing by the Dodgers. Mizuhara initially claimed that Ohtani was aware of the wire transfers to cover his gambling debt, but later changed his story, stating that Ohtani had no knowledge of the payments. The IRS has confirmed that both Mizuhara and the bookmaker, Mathew Bowyer, are under criminal investigation. MLB's Department of Investigations has begun gathering information on the matter, with the exact details of the investigation remaining unclear. Ohtani, who recently signed a record-breaking contract with the Dodgers, has not issued any statements on the situation. The Dodgers are scheduled to resume their regular season next Thursday, with exhibition games against the Angels set for this week. This scandal marks the biggest gambling controversy in baseball since Pete Rose's lifetime ban in 1989.