Former Ohtani Teammate David Fletcher Under Investigation for Gambling

• David Fletcher, former Los Angeles Angels infielder who’s currently on the Atlanta Braves, is under investigation for illegal gambling.
• Allegations against Fletcher claim he also placed bets with Matthew Boyer, the same California bookmaker who accepted wagers from Shohei Ohtani’s interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara.
• Key notes: Fletcher regarded Ohtani as his closest friend during the time with the Angels, and Fletcher bet on other sports but not baseball.

ATLANTA – Just when the Shohei Ohani gambling scandal seems to have ended, a new investigation begins. Major League Baseball opened an investigation on David Fletcher, who placed bets with the same illegal California bookmaker as Shohei Ohtani’s interpreter Ippei Mizuhara did.

Fletcher, now a part of the Atlanta Braves organization, was teammates with Ohtani from 2018 to 2023 with the Los Angeles Angels. Although the Ippei Mizuhara investigation seemingly cleared Ohtani of any involvement or knowledge in his interpreter’s betting, the news of Fletcher’s gambling adds an interesting twist to the story.

Could Ohtani Be Involved In Fletcher’s Illegal Gambling?

The MLB’s investigation of David Fletcher is still in the early stages, but it makes Ohtani’s complete unawareness to the gambling scandal even less plausible than when the Mizuhara news first broke. Many speculate that Mizuhara took the fall for Ohtani’s gambling, but the US Department of Justice found no evidence of Ohtani’s involvement during their investigation.

Fletcher regarded Ohtani as one of his closest friends during his time with the Angels, according to Tisha Thompson’s report. The two players joined the team as rookies in 2018 and would often talk on the bus and at the team hotels.

MLB players are allowed to participate in legal sports betting for other sports than baseball, but placing bets illegally as Fletcher did is subject to punishment according to the league rulebook. Sources claim Fletcher didn’t bet on baseball, so he will avoid a suspension or league-wide ban if true.

Fletcher’s friend, Colby Schultz, however did bet with the same bookmaker on Angels games which Fletcher participated in. The former minor leaguer placed California sports betting wagers with the illegal bookie Matthew Boyer, which was discovered within a federal complaint about Ippei Mizuhara.

News tags: Atlanta Braves | Baseball | California | David Fletcher | Ippei Mizuhara | LA Angels | Matthew Boyer | Shohei Ohtani