More MLB gambling scandals likely in the future

TOKYO — Is this the tip of the iceberg?

I read with interest the news about the MLB ‘s lifetime ban of San Diego Padres utility infielder Tucupita Marcano, who had placed hundreds of bets on baseball, including 25 last year when he was a member of the Pittsburgh Pirates. MLB said Marcano, a lifetime .217 hitter over three major league seasons, had bet more than $150,000 on baseball from October 2022 through Nov. 1, 2023, $87,319 of which was directly on MLB-related action — winning just over 4% of his MLB-related wagers.

This is the second sports gambling scandal of the year. The first being Shohei Ohtani’s interpreter Ippei Mizuhara raiding his friend’s bank account to pay millions of dollars for bets on sports. Mizuhara has now pleaded guilty to fraud.