MLB is doing its due diligence with Shohei Ohtani ... with sources telling TMZ Sports league officials are gathering information to determine if the face of baseball was involved in the gambling scandal surrounding his translator.
Ohtani's inteprator and best friend Ippei Mizuhara has given conflicting stories on Shohei's involvement ... first saying the Dodgers superstar was well aware of his huge gambling debts, and loaned him millions of dollars to get out of the hole. He later backtracked, saying the Japanese two-way athlete had no idea.
As for Ohtani, his attorney claims he's been the victim of a "massive theft.