Tucupita Marcano threatened with lifetime ban after alleged betting on MLB games

MLB

By Pierre Botte

Major League Baseball faces another potential gambling controversy.

Months after Shohei Ohtani's longtime interpreter was accused of stealing $16 million from the Dodgers superstar to pay off his sports gambling debts, MLB is investigating the injured Padres infielder, Tucupita Marcano, for violating baseball's gambling policy – with the possibility of a lifetime ban, according to a report released Monday. by the Wall Street Journal.

Marcano, 24, was 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 during the offseason, but he hasn't played since last July due to a torn ACL.

According to the report, four other players also face disciplinary action for betting on baseball while in the minor leagues.

Marcano declined to 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. communicated. “We will not make any further comment until the investigative process is complete.”

The NBA banned Raptors forward Jontay Porter in April for violating that league's gaming policy, including providing inside information to bettors and limiting his own playing time for betting purposes.

After Ohtani's former performer, Ippei Mizuhara, reached a deal to plead guilty last month, it was reported that MLB was also investigating Angels infielder David Fletcher, a former teammate of Ohtani's , for allegedly betting on sports with the same illegal bookmaker.