Shohei Ohtani's former LA Angels teammates 'shocked' amid bombshell gambling probe into alleged $4.5m wire transfers and Dodgers star's fired interpreter Ippei Mizuhara

Shohei Ohtani's former teammates have said they are 'shocked' at the investigation  and allegations surrounding the Dodgers star, his longtime interpreter Ippei Mizuhara and $4.5million of gambling debts. 

Major League Baseball announced on Friday that they have opened a probe into  the accusations surrounding Mizuhara and Ohtani.

Mizuhara was fired by the Los Angeles Dodgers amid questions surrounding at least $4.5 million in suspicious wire transfers from the pitcher's bank to a California gambling operation that ESPN reports is under federal investigation. 

Ohtani's attorneys have alleged that baseball's highest-paid player had been the victim of a 'massive theft.' 

The Japanese star joined the Dodgers this off-season in a record $700million deal. Ohtani previously spent five years with the Angels and his former teammates in Los Angeles have been stunned by the recent developments.

Major League Baseball are looking into accusations surrounding Shohei Ohtani and his former interpreter Ippei Mizuhara 

Ohtani and Mizuhara previously worked together during his time with the Los Angeles Angels

'I’m just shocked, and I’m as curious as anyone to see what comes out,' Angels outfielder Mickey Moniak told USA Today. 

'I have zero idea what’s going to transpire, or what has transpired over how many years. But great friends, great people. Ippei was as part of the team as anyone else.'

According to the report, Angels players said they had no idea about the alleged gambling debts or that either Ohtani or his interpreter had interests outside baseball.

One player reportedly said that the two-way star was so quiet that teammates were unaware he even had a girlfriend before he got married earlier this year. 

'I’m just shocked, and I’m as curious as anyone to see what comes out,' said Mickey Moniak

Ohthani would head home after games and rarely leave his hotel room.

Mizuhara, meanwhile, was a popular figure in the clubhouse, with the likes of Mike Trout considering him  'one of the guys.' 

Any MLB official or player found betting on baseball games in which they are not involved faces an automatic one-year ban. Should they be found to have bet on a game they are involved in, they will be banned for life.

'We just have to see what happens, I guess,' Moniak said. 'I mean, it’s legal in 38 states. So as long as he’s not betting on baseball... I just hope it all works out.’