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Interview with Amber Roman who caught Shohei Ohtani’s first home run as a Dodger at Dodger Stadium last night (Wednesday, April 3). I post it because she was essentially extorted in to giving up the ball to Dodger staff. Security immediately went and got her, took her in to a room, would not allow her husband, or anyone else, to accompany her. They then told her if she did not give them the ball that the Dodgers would not authenticate it and it would be worthless. That there is illegal. The whole thing stinks. I post the pertinent transcript excerpt...

Baseball sensation Shohei Ohtani's long-time interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, has been fired by the Los Angeles Dodgers after allegations of theft connected to illegal gambling. According to ESPN, at least $4.5m (£3.5m) was transferred from Ohtani's bank account to a bookmaker. Ohtani is not accused of wrongdoing. Mr Mizuhara spoke to the sports network about his gambling debts on Tuesday. The news comes as Ohtani made his regular season debut with the Dodgers. The team's senior communications director has told the BBC that they are gathering information and that they "can confirm that interpreter Ippei Mizuhara has been terminated".

LOS ANGELES — Baseball superstar Shohei Ohtani signed a record-shattering $700 million contract today with the Los Angeles Dodgers, which will net him about 58 bucks after taxes. "I am very happy to have signed the largest baseball contract of all time," said Ohtani through an interpreter. "I am thankful the Dodgers believe I am worth $700 million, which I am told after taxes will allow me to purchase two full-size sandwiches from Jimmy John's. I am hoping to finally try the Italian Night Club." Considered by some to be the most talented baseball player in history, Ohtani will earn...

DETROIT -- Shohei Ohtani hit his 40th homer and pitched eight sharp innings, helping the Los Angeles Angels beat Miguel Cabrera and the Detroit Tigers 3-1 on Wednesday night. The Comerica Park crowd of 27,282 was hoping to see Cabrera hit his 500th career homer, but the slugger went 1-for-4 with a first-inning single. "He's obviously one of the best hitters of all time and he's also a great person," Ohtani said. "I would have been OK with giving it up, and I hope he does it sooner rather than later." Instead, Ohtani (8-1) put on a show. The Japanese...

Shohei Ohtani has 33 home runs and a 3.49 ERA, but Stephen A. Smith believes the Angels’ two-way star is detrimental to Major League Baseball. During Monday’s episode of ESPN’s “First Take,” the show’s host, Molly Qerim, asked Smith and Max Kellerman if “it’s good for Major League Baseball that Ohtani is the top attraction.” In response, Smith answered “not to me,” reasoning that Ohtani’s use of a Japanese interpreter diminishes the sport’s popularity domestically. “The fact that you got a foreign player that doesn’t speak English, that needs an interpreter, believe it or not, I think contributes to harming...

Japanese star Shohei Ohtani has agreed to sign with the Los Angeles Angels, his agent said on Friday. In addition to the Angels, Ohtani had met with the Chicago Cubs, Texas Rangers, Los Angeles Dodgers, San Francisco Giants, San Diego Padres and Seattle Mariners. "Shohei is humbled and flattered by all the time and effort that so many teams put into their presentations and sincerely thanks them for their professionalism," his agent, Nez Balelo, said in a statement. "In the end, he felt a strong connection with the Angels and believes they can best help him reach his goals in...

It is an early March afternoon, hours before a Japan League exhibition game, and Shohei Ohtani can't find a catcher. So he takes a cart of balls to the outfield, paces off 60 feet and begins throwing into the padded wall. It is baseball’s equivalent of an omakase menu: Ohtani grips baseballs with his right hand, goes into his windup and torques his 6' 4", 215-pound frame, much of it muscle. Extending his right arm, he manipulates the balls through the air in precise flight paths that seemingly defy the laws of physics. Mostly, though, he sends them whistling through the...