Dodgers' Roberts impressed by 'unflappable' Ohtani
Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has been impressed by how Shohei Ohtani has carried himself amid the betting scandal surrounding his former interpreter Ippei Mizuhara.
"You just never learn about a person until they go through some adversity, whether on the field or in this case off the field," Roberts said Tuesday, according to Rowan Kavner of Fox Sports. "I've learned that he's unflappable. He really is."
Ohtani is slashing .341/.385/.634 with four home runs, 10 doubles, and 10 RBIs in his first 20 games with the Dodgers after signing a record 10-year, $700-million contract in the offseason.
Mizuhara surrendered to federal authorities on charges that he stole approximately $16 million from Ohtani to pay off illegal gambling debts.
Roberts said the 29-year-old does a good job of keeping his focus on the diamond despite the off-field noise.
"He's very stoic," Roberts said. "You just don't know his emotions. He just comes in every day the same. You never know if things are good or things are bad, stuff on his mind. He's just a pro. He just wants to play baseball."
The Dodgers are off to a 12-8 start in 2024 and lead the San Diego Padres by one game for first place in the NL West.