David Fletcher, a former Los Angeles Angels infielder these days enjoying for the Atlanta Braves‘ Triple-A associate, and his buddy, who additionally performed within the minor leagues, each wager on sports activities with the Southern California bookmaker who took wagers from Shohei Ohtani‘s longtime interpreter, consistent with more than one assets detailing the actions.
Fletcher, who used to be Ohtani’s teammate from 2018 to 2023 and has been described as certainly one of his closest pals in baseball, positioned bets with the bookmaking operation of Mathew Bowyer, consistent with the assets. Ohtani’s former interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, additionally wager with Bowyer and eventually stole nearly $17 million from the Eastern famous person to feed his habit, consistent with prosecutors.
Fletcher’s similar buddy, Colby Schultz, who performed within the Kansas City Royals‘ device from 2018 to 2020, positioned bets on baseball, together with on Angels video games that Fletcher performed in future he used to be at the group, more than one assets instructed ESPN.
Fletcher wager on a number of sports activities however no longer baseball, consistent with more than one assets.
MLB gamers and workers are allowed to wager on sports activities alternative than baseball — however no longer with unlawful bookmakers corresponding to Bowyer. The league rulebook states that gamers having a bet with unlawful bookmakers are topic to punishment on the commissioner’s discretion. A participant who bets on baseball video games during which he didn’t take part shall be prevented for one 12 months. Any participant who bets on his personal video games shall be prevented completely.
MLB declined to remark, however a league supply instructed ESPN that Fletcher had no longer up to now been investigated, however is now anticipated to be.
Fletcher didn’t reply to more than one demands for remark. He used to be within the lineup for Gwinnett’s recreation in opposition to the Memphis Redbirds on Friday evening, batting 2nd. Schultz may no longer be reached.
The U.S. Legal professional’s Administrative center for the Central District of California declined to remark, as did the Braves.
Fletcher signed a five-year, $26 million extension with the Angels in 2021 that comes with two choice years in 2026 and 2027 importance $8 million and $8.5 million, respectively. The group traded him to the Braves in December.
Generation with the Angels, he used to be steadily described as Ohtani’s closest buddy at the group.
“We’re good friends,” Fletcher instructed ESPN on March 18 when requested about his dating with Ohtani. “We would talk on the bus and at the hotel.”
A couple of assets described Schultz as certainly one of Fletcher’s easiest pals. The 2 males, who’re each 29, grew up in Orange County, California. Fletcher steadily seems in Schultz’s Instagram posts.
Within the federal grievance in opposition to Mizuhara, government say Bowyer despatched Mizuhara’s twine knowledge to an assistant referred to as “Bookmaker 3.” The assets instructed ESPN that Schultz is Bookmaker 3.
Within the March interview, Fletcher instructed ESPN that he used to be provide on the 2021 poker recreation in San Diego the place Mizuhara first met Bowyer. Fletcher stated he didn’t introduce the interpreter to the bookie however that Bowyer received access to the poker recreation on the group lodge via an acquaintance of Fletcher’s.
Fletcher additionally instructed ESPN in March he had met Bowyer as soon as earlier than future enjoying golfing and that he knew Bowyer used to be a bookmaker on the pace of the poker recreation. He stated that he by no means positioned a raffle himself with Bowyer’s group.
ESPN’s Paula Lavigne and T.J. Quinn contributed to this record.
