Amidst the expanding federal investigation into Wayne Nix's illegal gambling ring, Major League Baseball (MLB) has initiated its own probe. ESPN has linked former Los Angeles Dodgers infielder David Fletcher and former minor leaguer Cody Schultz to an illegal bookmaking operation in Southern California.
Shohei Ohtani, a player on the same team, was reportedly defrauded by translator Ippei Mizuhara, who allegedly stole approximately $16 million from Ohtani's accounts, using the services of illegal bookmaker Matthew Boyer.
According to ESPN, Fletcher also placed bets with the assistance of Boyer, though it's noted that Fletcher did not bet on baseball, unlike his associate Schultz, who placed bets on Dodgers games.
While MLB rules permit players to engage in sports betting, betting on baseball itself is strictly prohibited. Sports betting remains illegal in California, meaning any bets placed with Boyer by Fletcher or Schultz would constitute a violation of state law. Moreover, according to league regulations, betting on baseball could result in a lifetime ban from MLB.
