Tucupita Marcano and Ippei Mizuhara were at the forefront of two of the biggest controversies of the 2024 MLB season (Photo Source: IMAGN)Tucupita Marcano and Ippei Mizuhara were at the forefront of two of the biggest controversies of the 2024 MLB season (Photo Source: IMAGN)

The MLB has a rich history of feel-good stories and tremendous athletic achievements that helped make the sport iconic. However, it is not free from its fair share of controversies. 2024 was no different for the beloved sport, as the baseball community was rocked by a number of polarizing situations and downright disturbing moments that defined the year.

From scandals revolving around gambling to questionable contracts and even lengthy suspensions, the 2024 MLB season had plenty of newsworthy headlines that will cement their place in baseball history.

Here’s a closer look at 7 controversies that helped define the 2024 MLB season

#1 – Shohei Ohtani’s ex-interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, pleaded guilty to bank and tax fraud

Arguably, the biggest story of the 2024 season came right as it started. During the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres’ Tokyo Series, news broke that Ohtani’s now-former interpreter Mizuhara was linked to illegal sports betting, with some questioning if Ohtani himself was involved.

After months of investigating, the league determined that Ohtani was not involved and was, in fact, a victim of considerable theft, as Mizuhara reportedly stole millions of dollars from the superstar to feed his gambling debts. Mizuhara pled guilty to bank and tax fraud charges and faces up to 33 years in prison.

#2 – MLB’s uniform failures

Change is a part of life. However, when it came to the league deciding to change the uniforms of every club, it backfired epically. The league decided to switch to Nike jerseys produced by Fanatics. Photos quickly revealed that the pants were see-through, the tops and bottom colors didn’t match, and the lettering on the back was poor.

#3 – Jarren Duran received a two-game suspension for a homophobic slur

The Boston Red Sox centerfielder enjoyed a true breakout season in 2024. However, it was not without a few mistakes along the way. During a tense matchup between the Red Sox and the Houston Astros, Duran lost his cool and directed a homophobic slur toward a heckling fan. This led to a two-game suspension and the team donating the lost salary to the Greater PFLAG Boston.

#4 – Yankees fans ripped the ball out of Mookie Betts’ glove

From one fan story to another, a pair of New York Yankees earned their 15 minutes of fame on the MLB’s biggest stage. During Game 4 of the World Series, the Yankees hit a foul ball to the right field wall, which Betts was tracking. As the Dodgers star caught the ball over the fence, two Yankees fans decided not only to try and steal the ball but appeared to try and take his glove.

#5 – The Athletics said goodbye to Oakland

Although this was the news that many were expecting, it was not an easy moment for fans across the league to watch. Like Thanos said in The Avengers, the departure of the Athletics from Oakland was inevitable. The team’s controversial owner, John Fisher, got his wish and pulled the franchise out of Oakland ahead of a high-profile move to Las Vegas.

MLB fans rallied around A’s fans who lost their club because one of the least-liked owners in the league refused to invest in their city and their future. It was indeed a dark day for the Oakland sports scene.

#6 – Tucupita Marcano earns lifetime ban from MLB

Marcano may not have become a household name for his playing career. However, following his involvement in betting on baseball games, he will forever be linked to MLB legend Pete Rose. The league determined that Marcano placed 387 bets on baseball games, reportedly winning only 4.3% of his bets. The 25-year-old ended his career by gambling, and he wasn’t even good at it.

#7 – Shohei Ohtani’s heavily-deferred contract

There is an ongoing debate about the size of contracts being handed out to players, with some suggesting that MLB implement some kind of salary cap. This conversation was sparked again when Ohtani signed a 10-year, $700 million deal with Los Angeles. As if that wasn’t enough, the deal was heavily deferred, allowing the club to sign other superstars while frustrating fans everywhere.