Written by: Jacob Nevis
It’s spring once again, and that means the return of America’s favorite pastime: baseball. The MLB teams have already started their spring training games, with the regular season already underway for some teams.
Last week, MLB saw a return to international games, with the San Diego Padres taking on the Los Angeles Dodgers in the Seoul Series in South Korea. The series was split, with both teams winning a game.
This offseason, the Dodgers put a lot of money into their team to try and bring another World Series trophy back to Los Angeles. The Dodgers gave two-time MVP Shohei Ohtani the biggest contract in baseball history with a 10-year, $700 million deal. Ohtani, a designated hitter (DH) and pitcher, will not pitch this season after injuring an elbow ligament last season.
Ohtani has been in the news very recently after firing his longtime interpreter, who was accused by Ohtani and his lawyers of massive theft. The interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, allegedly stole millions of dollars from Ohtani to place bets with a bookmaker. Sports gambling is legal in 38 states, but is still illegal in California, where the bets were being made. Ohtani’s representatives and Mizuhara have changed their statements to ESPN, first telling reporters that Ohtani knew about the gambling debt that Mizuhara had accrued but later saying that he had no knowledge or involvement. The league is now investigating these allegations, as well.
Other teams this season are looking to replicate their success from last season. Breakout star Corbin Caroll and the Arizona Diamondbacks are trying to get back to the World Series this season after a magical run ended in heartbreak to the Texas Rangers in the World Series.
Reigning MVP Ronald Acuna Jr. is looking to lead the Atlanta Braves back to the postseason after last season ended in disappointment. The Braves, who had the best record in MLB, fell to the Philadelphia Phillies in the Divisional Series.
The American League West will be a race to see who can finish on top, with the defending World Series champions the Rangers facing the Houston Astros. The Rangers were able to eliminate the Astros in the ALCS last season en route to the World Series.
The Oakland Athletics will also most likely be playing their final season in Oakland. The lease on the Oakland Coliseum will expire after the 2024 season. The team had previously announced a move to Las Vegas, but the stadium there will not be done till 2028 at the earliest. Neither the league nor the team has made any official announcement about where the team will play after this season.
