Ohtani recently became victim of 'massive' $4.5m theft by his interpreter Ippei Mizuhara
Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani was given a grand welcome by his former team LA Angels as he returned to the Angel Stadium for the first time on Tuesday night after signing a record $700 million deal.
Ohtani played for the Angels for half a decade and was also named AL MVP twice before moving across the city for the Dodgers, the Daily Mail reported.
The Angels welcomed the Japanese star to the field with a video playing on the stadium jumbotron, showing highlights from Ohtani's 2023 MVP season.
As the 29-year-old two-way star came up to bat at the top of the first inning, the stadium echoed with fans’ applause and cheers as the video paid tribute to him star.
Ohtani entered the batter’s box but he was soon forced to step away with an almost embarrassed look on his face as he was unable to give his best performance despite the warm welcome he received.
The Angels won Tuesday's exhibition 4-3, with Ohtani 0 for 2 at the plate.
Ohtani has recently been all over the news after his interpreter Ippei Mizuhara was fired amid a bombshell gambling probe by the Major League Baseball (MLB).
Ohtani’s attorneys claim that he was a victim of a “massive theft” by Mizuhara who allegedly made wire transactions totaling at $4.5 million from the baseball star’s account to settle gambling debts.
Earlier this week, Ohtani broke his silence over the matter.
The star, through an interpreter, said that he has “never bet on baseball or any other sports and never asked someone to do it on my behalf and never went through a bookmaker.”
He added that “Ippei has been stealing money from my account and has told lies”.