Everything we know about Shohei Ohtani's interpreter who allegedly stole millions from the pitcher for illegal gambling
Mere hours after Shohei Ohtani made his Los Angeles Dodgers debut in a season-opening 5-2 victory over the San Diego Padres in South Korea, Ohtani’s attorneys have accused his interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, of using the superstar’s funds to cover bets placed with an illegal bookmaker, according to a Los Angeles Times report.
Mizuhara was fired by the Dodgers on Wednesday after coming over from the Los Angeles Angels with Ohtani this offseason.
The newspaper learned that Ohtani’s name had come up in the federal investigation of Mathew Bowyer, an Orange County resident. According to sources in the LA Times article, Mizuhara placed bets with Bowyer.
According to ESPN’s Tisha Thompson, at least $4.5 million in wire transfers was sent from Ohtani’s bank account to a bookmaker.
The investigation into Bowyer involves the same prosecutors targeting a multi-million illegal sports betting operation in Orange County centered on Wayne Nix.
Ippei Mizhuara not only became Shohei Ohtani's closest friend since Ohtani came to the U.S., but was extremely well-liked by the Angels' players and the Dodgers this spring.
He is now being accused by Ohtani's attorneys of stealing millions of dollars from him, per the LA Times— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) March 20, 2024
Bowyer’s attorney, Diane Bass, said, “Mathew Bowyer never met, spoke with, or texted, or had contact in any way with Shohei Ohtani.”
According to ESPN, Ohtani’s representatives have already offered conflicting explanations regarding what the two-way star knew about Mizuhara’s gambling debts:
Initially, a spokesman for Ohtani told ESPN the slugger had transferred the funds to cover Mizuhara’s gambling debt. The spokesman presented Mizuhara to ESPN for a 90-minute interview Tuesday night, during which Mizuhara laid out his account in great detail. However, as ESPN prepared to publish the story Wednesday, the spokesman disavowed Mizuhara’s account and said Ohtani’s lawyers would issue a statement.
Additionally, Mizuhara told ESPN on Tuesday that Ohtani “logged onto his own computer and sent the wire transfers under Mizuhara’s supervision in installments over several months last year”.
On Wednesday, however, Mizuhara changed his story, telling ESPN that Ohtani “had no knowledge of his gambling activities, debts or efforts to repay them”.
Mizuhara further told ESPN that Ohtani does not gamble and the money only covered his losses. The interpreter said he only wagered on soccer, NFL, college football and the NBA.
“I never bet on baseball,” Mizuhara told ESPN. “That’s 100%. I knew that rule … We have a meeting about that in spring training.”
MLB’s gambling policy prohibits any employee from betting on the game or making illegal bets on other sports.
This story will be updated as more information becomes available