Shohei Ohtani Gambling Investigation Will Hopefully Be 'Short,' Rob Manfred Says

Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred hopes the gambling investigation into Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani doesn't drag well into the season even if he is unsure about a specific timeline.

"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 during a Thursday appearance on Major League Baseball Network's High Heat with Chris Russo (h/t ESPN). "We never have the kind of authority that law enforcement people have but we manage to get these investigations done and find the facts and I'm sure we will on this one.

"I hope (it's) short, but I just don't know."

MLB is investigating the situation after the Dodgers fired Ohtani's interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, after it was revealed at least $4.5 million in wire transfers were sent from the two-time MVP's bank account to a bookmaking operation that is under federal investigation.

Ohtani issued a statement Monday denying that he ever bet on sports and saying, "Ippei has been stealing money from my account and has told lies."

ESPN's Tisha Thompson reported on Mizuhara's firing and noted a spokesperson for Ohtani initially said the money was intentionally transferred to cover the interpreter's gambling debts. Mizuhara even provided such an account himself.

Yet a spokesperson for Ohtani then reached out and disavowed that version of events and pointed toward a statement from the star's lawyers.

"In the course of responding to recent media inquiries, we discovered that Shohei has been the victim of a massive theft, and we are turning the matter over to the authorities," the lawyers said.

As for Manfred, he said of MLB's investigation, "Given the way the story unfolded it's important in assuring our fans about the integrity of the game that we verify the things that Mr. Ohtani said, it's really that simple."

As the investigation continues, the Dodgers are set to face the St. Louis Cardinals in their home opener on Thursday after splitting the two games against the San Diego Padres in the Seoul Series.