Shohei Ohtani’s lawyers say the Dodgers superstar has allegedly been the victim of “massive theft,” reportedly accusing his now-former interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, of taking funds from Ohtani to use for illegal gambling. ESPN reports that at least $4.5 million in wire transfers were sent from Ohtani’s bank account to a California bookmaker who is under federal investigation. Mizuhara, Ohtani’s longtime interpreter and friend, was fired by the Dodgers on Wednesday.Â
Mizuhara spoke with ESPN earlier this week, originally claiming on Tuesday that Ohtani was paying off his gambling debts. He changed his story a day later, however, to say Ohtani was unaware of the payments. Mizuhara — who has been working with Ohtani for more than six years — was in Seoul, South Korea, with Ohtani and the Dodgers as they opened the 2024 MLB regular season against the Padres this week.
Mizuhara claimed to ESPN that he never bet on baseball. Diane Bass, a lawyer for the alleged bookmaker, backed that claim to the Associated Press. Sports betting is not legalized in California, though, and illegal gambling on any sport violates MLB rules.
Mizuhara’s problems mounted on Thursday, as ESPN reported that Ohtani’s representatives have asked law enforcement to investigate the alleged theft. Additionally, the AP has reported that the Internal Revenue Service says Mizuhara and the alleged bookmaker are now being investigated by the agency.
“The Dodgers are aware of media reports and are gathering information,” a spokesperson said in a statement late Wednesday. “The team can confirm that interpreter Ippei Mizuhara has been terminated. The team has no further comment at this time.”
Here’s everything you need to know about the ongoing scandal:
Lawyers’ accusations
The bookmaker, named by the L.A. Times as Mathew Bowyer of Orange County, reportedly surfaced in a federal investigation along with Ohtani’s name. The…
