LOS ANGELES – Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani will address the media on March 25 for the first time since his interpreter was fired by the Major League Baseball (MLB) team amid allegations that he stole from the player to pay off gambling debts, the team’s manager said on March 24.

“It’s the right thing to do. I’m happy he’s going to speak and speak to what he knows and give his thoughts on the whole situation. I think it will give us all a little bit more clarity,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said.

Roberts said Ohtani had not addressed the situation with his Dodgers teammates as a group, adding he had checked in with the 29-year-old Japanese and things appear to be “business as usual.”

Ohtani batted second in the line-up in the Dodgers’ exhibition game against his former team, the Los Angels, on March 24 at Dodger Stadium, briefly telling reporters before the contest he would speak to the media on March 25.

The Dodgers did not immediately reply when asked by Reuters via e-mail what time and where Ohtani, a two-time American League Most Valuable Player, would speak to the media.

Since the allegations against interpreter and close friend Ippei Mizuhara surfaced last week during the Dodgers’ season-opening series in Seoul, South Korea, MLB has begun a formal investigation into the matter.

According to a Los Angeles Times report last week, Ohtani’s attorneys told the newspaper Mizuhara had used the ball player’s funds to pay off an alleged illegal bookmaker, who is reportedly under federal investigation.

Ohtani’s lawyers did not immediately respond to a request for comment and Reuters has been unable to reach Mizuhara for comment.

Ohtani joined the Dodgers last December after signing a US$700 million (S$942.6 million), 10-year contract that brought an end to a high-profile chase for one of the most coveted MLB free agents in recent memory. REUTERS