Major League Baseball is facing another potential gambling controversy.
Months after Shohei Ohtani’s longtime interpreter was charged with stealing $16 million from the Dodgers superstar to pay off sports gambling debts, MLB is investigating injured Padres infielder Tucupita Marcano for violating baseball’s gambling policy — with the possibility of a lifetime ban, according to a report Monday by the Wall Street Journal.
The 24-year-old Marcano has been accused of betting on games involving the Pirates, his former team, while he was on the injured list with Pittsburgh last season. The Venezuela native was claimed off waivers by the Padres in the offseason, but he hasn’t played since last July due to a torn ACL.
Four other players also are facing possible disciplinary action for betting on baseball while in the minor leagues, according to the report.
Marcano declined comment to the Journal through his representative, as did MLB and the MLB Players’ Association.
“We are aware of an active investigation by Major League Baseball regarding a matter that occurred when the player in question was a member of another organization and not affiliated with the San Diego Padres,” the Padres told the outlet in a statement. “We will not have any further comment until the investigative process has been completed.”
The NBA banned Raptors forward Jontay Porter in April for violating that league’s gambling policy, specifically for providing inside information to bettors and limiting his own playing time for betting purposes.
After Ohtani’s former interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, reached an agreement to plead guilty last month, it was reported that MLB also is investigating Angels infielder David Fletcher, Ohtani’s former teammate, for allegedly betting on sports with the same illegal bookmaker.
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