LOS ANGELES - The last time Shohei Ohtani thought he might be in trouble was when his name was linked to a federal investigation into illegal sports gambling in March 2024.

His name was soon cleared by authorities, who charged and convicted Ohtani's interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, in federal court with surreptitiously stealing more than $17 million from the Dodgers superstar to pay off an Orange County bookmaker.

Ohtani wondered if something was amiss Wednesday when manager Dave Roberts summoned him before the Dodgers' home game against the New York Mets.

But not for long. Ohtani rushed into Roberts' office, saw a bright pink remote-controlled toy car on the ground and immediately started laughing.

"I have a gift for you," Roberts told him. "Actually, for your daughter."

"For my daughter

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