Baseball

12:37 PM PT -- Hilton joined Harvey and Charles on "TMZ Live" on Wednesday to break down his big night ... and while he says Hollywood hasn't come calling, he explained why he's perfectly fine with sticking to his day-to-day.

As for the first pitch ... well, that's sort of a touchy subject.

Can you bee-lieve this?!?

The start of the Dodgers vs. Diamondbacks game was delayed by nearly two hours on Tuesday ... and it's all 'cause a massive swarm of bees infiltrated the diamond.

The insects first began hovering around Chase Field's home plate just minutes before the first pitch was slated to go down in Arizona ... and after a while, so many of them congregated, officials had to press pause on the action in order to get an expert out to the field.

Johnny Manziel and Josie Canseco aren't being subtle about their romance anymore -- the Heisman Trophy winner and model just went full-send with their relationship ... sharing some PDA pics after attending Stagecoach together.

The new couple simultaneously posted snaps from the country music festival on their Instagram stories a few minutes ago ... with both images showing them wrapped in each other's arms during Morgan Wallen's headlining performance.

Johnny also documented their group jamming to the singer's "Ain't That Some" ... and it's clear everyone had a helluva time.

Livvy Dunne and Pittsburgh Pirates fans have a lot in common these days -- namely, they both can't wait for Paul Skenes to get the call-up to the Big Leagues!!

The Pittsburgh Pirates No. 1 overall pick -- and Livvy's boyfriend -- has been dominating down in the minors for the last few weeks ... and Buccos supporters have already started clamoring for the org. to put him on their mound in The Show ASAP.

Dunne -- who's been dating the big right-hander for most of the past year -- is also hoping to see that happen soon ... explaining to TMZ Sports earlier this week she's already "starting to get all my merch ready."

Comedian Elayne Boosler says she was handcuffed and nearly thrown in the slammer after showing up to the Dodger game on Sunday ... claiming the whole debacle that led to her arrest was centered around a handbag.

The 71-year-old writer broke down her side of things following the alleged incident ... saying she wanted to check out the Dodgers' matinee matchup against the New York Mets, but was stopped by (in her opinion) a power-hungry stadium security guard over her baseball-themed purse.

Boosler said she was refused entry because the item didn't meet the venue's clear bag policy ... and she was told she could either take it back to her car, or throw it away.

Major League Baseball just handed down a two-game ban on Aroldis Chapman ... after it says his meltdown on Monday night was simply "inappropriate."

If you missed it ... Chapman went off on Edwin Moscoso in the eighth inning of the Pirates' 6-3 loss to the Mets at Citi Field -- after he felt the home plate umpire had botched a few balls and strike calls.

Chapman walked off the mound toward Moscoso after giving up a go-ahead, two-run double ... and had some words for the guy.

A woman who accused Trevor Bauer of sexual assault has just been hit with a criminal charge ... after she allegedly defrauded the former Cy Young winner into paying her for an abortion he believes never happened.

The charge -- fraudulent schemes and artifices -- was formally filed against Darcy Esemonu in Arizona on Monday ... weeks after a Maricopa County grand jury indicted her on the felony count.

According to a video statement Bauer posted on his YouTube page Tuesday, it stems from allegations Esemonu made against the former Dodgers star in a 2023 lawsuit.

The woman alleged in her papers that Bauer raped her during a 2020 encounter and got her pregnant. In a countersuit, Bauer denied any wrongdoing ... but he did say he had consensual sex with her one time in Dec. 2020, when the condom he had been using broke.

He claimed in his countersuit that after their hookup, Esemonu told him she was pregnant and wanted more than $1 million to terminate it. Bauer claimed he would support her decision ... before he gave her $8,761 for the cost she eventually said it took to end the alleged pregnancy.

However, in his video statement Tuesday, Bauer said, "She never had an abortion, because she was never even pregnant." He added that that was all "corroborated by her own medical records."

Bauer said authorities were made aware of all of this after they initiated an investigation into her sexual assault allegations against him.

Court records show Esemonu was also charged with fraud due to her interactions with a man named Marco Bresciani. In addition, the records show she was charged with felony theft by extortion for wrongdoing against Bresciani as well.

"Her m.o. is clear," Bauer said of the newly filed charges. "Lie to men to get their money. Extort them if she must. When they refuse to pay, stop paying, or stop giving her what she wants, go to the police, accuse them of sexual assault, and file a civil suit against them to retaliate."

Bauer stated he's hopeful he can now get another crack at pitching in the MLB again soon.

Former St. Louis Cardinals manager Whitey Herzog -- who won one World Series title and three pennants during his illustrious career -- has died at 92 years old.

His family announced the sad news in a statement on Tuesday ... explaining Herzog had been recently battling an illness. They added he spent his final days surrounded by his family members.

"Although it is hard for us to say goodbye," Herzog's loved ones wrote, "his peaceful passing was a blessing for him."

Herzog began his managerial career in 1973 with the Texas Rangers ... but he really made his mark in the Major Leagues when he took over the Cardinals in 1980.

Playing a style of baseball that MLB aficionados dubbed "Whiteyball," Herzog used unique bullpen management as well as players who could run and defend to win games.

He earned the World Series crown with the Cards in 1982 ... and added two more NL Pennant victories in 1985 and 1987.

Herzog -- who also coached the California Angels and the Kansas City Royals in his 18 years as a manager -- ultimately retired in 1990 ... with a record of 1,281 and 1,125.

St. Louis went on to retire his uniform No. 24 ... just after he was inducted into the Hall of Fame.

"On behalf of Major League Baseball," Commissioner Rob Manfred said, "I extend my deepest condolences to Whitey's family, his friends across the game, and the fans of the Cardinals and the Royals."

Added Cardinals honcho Bill DeWitt Jr., "Whitey loved the Cardinals, their fans, and St. Louis. He will be sorely missed."

Tyler O'Neill was forced to leave Boston's Patriots' Day game early on Monday ... after he suffered a bloody head wound in a collision with his teammate.

The scary moment happened in the seventh inning of the Red Sox's tilt with the Guardians at Fenway Park ... when Estevan Florial hit a popup to shallow left field that O'Neill and third baseman Rafael Devers both tried to catch.

You can see in footage from the game's broadcast, as they were looking toward the sky to haul in the ball, they didn't see each other -- and they ended up running into one another.

Replays showed the guys' heads collided first ... sending both dudes flying to the turf in a world of pain.

O'Neill seemed to suffer the worst of it -- as he looked to be bleeding from a few parts of his forehead. Devers, though, stayed on the ground for a while too ... and appeared woozy when he got up.

Trainers raced out to tend to both players, and, eventually, they each made their way to the dugout under their own power.

O'Neill was not able to return to the contest ... though Devers did remain in the lineup.

Rob Gronkowski got Red Sox fans fired up for their Patriots' Day game in the most Gronk way possible -- by spiking the ceremonial first pitch straight into the ground!

The New England Patriots legend took the mound at Fenway Park just before Boston took on the Guardians in the annual holiday tilt ... and instead of firing a fastball to his catcher, he decided to bring out his touchdown celebration instead.

Check out the footage, Gronk hurled the baseball into the dirt so hard, it made a loud thud -- and the crowd couldn't have loved it more!!

Even some of the Sox players were spotted cheering it on!!

Gronk then gave his catcher a leaping side bump ... before he settled in to watch the game.

It might not be long before another Vaughn is circling the basepaths in the MLB ... 'cause Mo Vaughn tells TMZ Sports his 11-year-old son is showing signs of being a serious baller on the diamond!!

The former AL MVP said this week Lee Vaughn has impressed him so far when he's gotten in between the white lines at ballparks ... telling us, "I honestly think he has a lot better tools than I ever had."

Mo said his offspring bats left, throws right ... and he can run, too!

The former Red Sox star, though, isn't rushing anything with his son right now ... explaining to us he knows how much can change in the baseball world in just a matter of years.

"There's such a marathon of life and game and mindset and many things mentally you have to go through," Mo said. "So, let's just see."

Of course, it wouldn't be unprecedented if Lee were to make it to the Big Leagues. MLB rosters are currently littered with sons of former stars -- including Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Fernando Tatis Jr. and, most recently, Jackson Holliday.

If Lee does want to take the baseball route seriously ... he will have some great training from Dad, as Mo has been a helluva coach already for prospects through his Vaughn Sports Academy and Perfect Game program.

But, again, Mo stressed he's going to be super patient with this whole process.

2:22 PM PT -- Ippei Mizuhara showed up to his court appearance with shackles around his ankles ... although the chains were ultimately removed as the hearing got underway.

During the proceedings, Mizuhara -- wearing a dark-colored suit -- learned he will be released on $25,000 bond ... but he will have to abide by a myriad of conditions in order to stay out of custody -- including no gambling whatsoever.

Mizuhara will also have to enroll in a gamblers addiction treatment program ... as well as, among other stipulations, have no communication with Shohei Ohtani.

It's almost the weekend, but another busy day of big news hit Thursday ... and, TMZ was there to cover it all.

On "TMZ Live," Charles and Jason break down O.J. Simpson's death ... discussing the life of an incredibly polarizing public figure.

Shohei Ohtani's former interpreter Ippei Mizuhara has just been charged with a felony ... after federal prosecutors say they discovered he stole nearly $20 million from the MLB superstar to, in part, pay off his massive gambling debts.

The United States Department of Justice just announced the filing ... saying at a news conference in Los Angeles on Thursday they were formally hitting Mizuhara with one count of bank fraud.

Prosecutors say he faces a maximum of up to 30 years in prison if convicted.

According to the DOJ, an investigation into allegations that Mizuhara had stolen from Ohtani revealed Ippei snatched some of the Dodgers star's funds via an account he had helped the two-way player set up back in 2018.

Authorities say Mizuhara illegally accessed the account after amassing a gambling debt. They said he then wired transfers from it totaling around $16 million to bookmakers. They added that from January 2024 to March 2024, he also used the account to buy roughly $325,000 worth of baseball cards.

The DOJ said during its investigation, they found Ohtani had no knowledge of what was going on.

"In an interview last week with law enforcement," the feds said in a statement, "Ohtani denied authorizing Mizuhara’s wire transfers. Ohtani provided his cellphone to law enforcement, who determined that there was no evidence to suggest that Ohtani was aware of, or involved in, Mizuhara’s illegal gambling activity or payment of those debts."

Prosecutors said they believe Mizuhara never made any bets on baseball.

For Ohtani's part, he's been adamant throughout this entire process that he committed no wrongdoing ... saying in a press conference last month, "I'm very saddened and shocked that someone who I trusted has done this."

Mo Vaughn says don't blame the pitch clock for the recent rash of arm injuries around the MLB -- he says the real culprit is none other than ... computers!!

The former American League MVP made it clear to TMZ Sports this week he thinks it's analytics -- not adjustments to timing pitchers -- that's creating elbow woes.

He explained he thinks the obsession with velocity and spin rates has caused pitchers to stop, you know, pitching ... and focus solely on unloading the gas tank on every throw instead.

Shohei Ohtani had no idea his translator was gambling millions of dollars, and the feds have concluded not only was the Dodger star NOT involved in the scheme, he was a victim of fraud ... law enforcement sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ Sports.

The feds have been investigating Ippei Mizuhara, Ohtani's longtime translator, close friend, and functionally his manager. Mizuhara gambled away millions, reportedly at least $4.5 million, and after the story broke he said Ohtani had covered the debt.

Our sources say the feds, who launched an investigation last month, have concluded Mizuhara was lying -- that Ohtani was completely in the dark over the gambling debt, and Mizuhara embezzled from one of Ohtani's accounts without the pitcher's knowledge.

A super-rare Shohei Ohtani jersey, worn by the (then) Angels superstar on Jackie Robinson Day in 2023, signed and inscribed by the slugger/ace, is on the auction block where it's expected to rake in six figures!

Shohei, before signing his historic, $700 million contract with the Dodgers this offseason, rocked the jersey on April 15, 2023 for the Angels vs. Red Sox game at Fenway Park ... the day all MLB players honored the achievements of the great Jackie Robinson by wearing his number 42.

Of course, all Major League Baseball retired the number across the entire sport ... so that's the only day anyone wears 42.

The Angels lost the game, 9-7 ... but to no one's surprise, Ohtani, who served as designated hitter, went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored.

As if just being worn by Shohei wasn't cool enough, in February, months after the game, he also signed the jersey ... writing "GU 4.15.23" and "2023 AL MVP".

It's also the only game-worn jersey from the entire '23 season (that's hot the open market) ... making it even more special.

Now, the jersey is up for grabs at SCP Auctions ... where it's expected to sell for around $100k!

The item already has 7 bids -- $39k being the biggest. But, with 3 days remaining, you can bet that number will rise faster than Ohtani's home run total.

It's not the only Ohtani item on the SCP block. They're also offering Shohei's 200th home run ball (combining his NPB and MLB stats) ... which he blasted on June 23, 2023, at Coors Field against the Rockies.

The ball, launched 423 feet in the 5th inning, is, like the jersey, expected to bring in a pretty penny.