Former Los Angeles Angels infielder and present Atlanta Braves minor leaguer David Fletcher positioned bets with Mathew Bowyer, the unlawful bookmaker on the middle of the Ippei Mizuhara scandal, ESPN reported on Friday. Fletcher isn’t accused of playing on baseball, however his buddy Colby Schultz, a former Kansas Metropolis Royals minor leaguer, reportedly did wager on MLB video games, together with Angels video games that Fletcher performed in.
MLB has opened an investigation into Fletcher, CBS Sports activities confirmed Monday. Fletcher stays an energetic participant in Triple-A with the Braves as of Monday. Schultz final performed in 2019.
Mizuhara, Shohei Ohtani’s buddy and longtime interpreter, is alleged to have stolen over $16 million from Ohtani to cowl his playing money owed. Ohtani and Fletcher have been teammates with the Angels from 2018-23 and are stated to be shut pals. Listed below are extra particulars from ESPN:
Within the March interview, Fletcher informed ESPN that he was current on the 2021 poker sport in San Diego the place Mizuhara first met Bowyer. Fletcher stated he didn’t introduce the interpreter to the bookie however that Bowyer gained entry to the poker sport on the staff resort by way of an acquaintance of Fletcher’s.
Fletcher additionally informed ESPN in March he had met Bowyer as soon as earlier than whereas enjoying golf and that he knew Bowyer was a bookmaker on the time of the poker sport. He stated that he by no means positioned a wager himself with Bowyer’s group.
A spokesperson for the U.S. Legal professional’s Workplace for the Central District of California declined to remark when reached by CBS Sports activities Friday night. An lawyer representing Bowyer didn’t instantly return a request for remark.
Gamers and staff personnel are forbidden from betting on baseball, even legally. They will wager on different sports activities legally, although sports activities playing is illegitimate in California. Any baseball-related self-discipline, together with a lifetime ban, is as much as the discretion of commissioner Rob Manfred. Pete Rose was given a lifetime ban after admitting he wager on baseball.
Bowyer is underneath federal investigation and Mizuhara’s and Fletcher’s names got here up through the investigation. Mizuhara initially claimed Ohtani agreed to cowl his debt, although he later admitted it was a lie. He allegedly stole from Ohtani by way of a collection of wire transfers, typically impersonating Ohtani over the cellphone to finish the transaction. Prosecutors have declared Ohtani a sufferer within the case and say he didn’t take part in any playing.
Mizuhara entered a not responsible plea earlier this week. That was merely a formality as he negotiates a plea take care of prosecutors. He’s dealing with as much as 33 years in jail for financial institution fraud, amongst different expenses.
Fletcher, 29, signed a five-year extension price $26 million in April 2021. The Angels traded him to the Braves in what amounted to a wage dump commerce this previous offseason. Atlanta positioned Fletcher on waivers, however he went unclaimed. He’s a profession .276/.323/.358 hitter.
