Shohei Ohtani’s lawyers have accused the Los Angeles Dodgers star’s interpreter of stealing at least $4.5 million to place bets with a bookmaker under investigation by federal authorities.
According to the Los Angeles TimesOhtani’s name came up in an investigation by federal investigators into Southern California bookmaker Mathew Bowyer.
That led representatives for Ohtani, who signed a $700 million contract with the Dodgers this offseason, to longtime performer and close friend of the player, Ippei Mizuhara.
Mizuhara, who has now been fired by the Dodgers, has worked with Ohtani for years and is a constant presence with him at major league clubs. When Ohtani left the Los Angeles Angels in December, the Dodgers also hired Mizuhara.
Mizuhara, who is still performing for Ohtani in Seoul on Wednesday, reportedly bets on international soccer, the NBA, the NFL and college football.
Shohei Ohtani’s lawyers accused the Los Angeles Dodgers star’s interpreter of theft
Ippei Mizuhara (left) reportedly bet on international soccer, NBA, NFL and college football
A spokesperson for Ohtani originally told ESPN on Tuesday that he had sent funds to cover Mizuhara’s gambling debts before the performer gave a 90-minute interview to outline his version of events.
But as ESPN prepared to release it on Wednesday, the same spokesperson completely distanced himself from Mizuhara’s account and instead said Ohtani’s lawyers were preparing their own statement.
West Hollywood law firm Berk Brettler later said, “In responding to recent media inquiries, we have discovered that Shohei was the victim of a massive theft and we are referring the matter to authorities.”
The Dodgers said in a statement that they were “aware of media reports and are gathering information.”
“The team can confirm that performer Ippei Mizuhara has been terminated,” the statement said. “The team has no further comment at this time.”
In the interview with ESPN, Mizuhara said he asked Ohtani to cover his debts – which reportedly reached at least $4.5 million – last year. He said Ohtani “wasn’t happy but said he would help me.”
On Wednesday, however, Mizuhara — who earns between $300,000 and $500,000 a year — told ESPN that Ohtani had no knowledge of the debt and that the Dodgers player had not transferred any money to the bookmaker.
Ohtani and performer Mizuhara have become close friends since he moved to the United States.
Mizuhara (left) pictured with Yamamoto Yoshinobu (center) and Ohtani earlier this week
It is alleged that wire transfer payments were sent from Ohtani’s account to someone working on Bowyer’s account.
ESPN sources have since insisted that Ohtani was not playing and that the funds covered Mizuhara’s substantial losses.
ESPN then reviewed the banking information and discovered Ohtani’s name appeared on two $500,000 payments made in September and October 2023.
Bowyer’s Attorney Diane Bass said he had “never met or spoken with Shohei Ohtani.”
His home in San Juan Capistrano was searched by police last year as part of the investigation.
Sports betting is still banned in the state of California and illegal sportsbooks allow people to bet on credit, while regulated sportsbooks require payment in advance.
MLB’s gaming policy, posted in every locker room, prohibits players and team employees from betting – even legally – on baseball and also prohibits betting on other sports with illegal or offshore bookmakers. Betting on baseball is punishable by a ban on playing the sport for one year. The sanction for illegal betting on other sports is at the discretion of the Commissioner.
“I never bet on baseball,” Mizuhara told ESPN. “It’s 100 percent. I knew about this rule… We have a meeting about it in spring training.
Mizuhara was born in Japan and moved to the Los Angeles area in 1991 so his father could work as a chef. He attended Diamond Bar High School in eastern Los Angeles County and graduated from the University of California, Riverside in 2007.
After college, Mizuhara was hired by the Boston Red Sox as an interpreter for Japanese pitcher Hideki Okajima.
In 2013, he returned to Japan to translate for the English-speaking players of the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters. It was there that he first met Ohtani, who joined the team that same year.
Ohtani’s RBI single capped a four-run eighth-inning rally as the Dodgers beat the Padres 5-2
Ohtani’s new wife, Mamiko Tanaka, watched from the stands in Seoul on Wednesday.
Ohtani is currently in Seoul, the South Korean capital, for the Dodgers’ season opener against the San Diego Padres.
Earlier Wednesday, Ohtani’s RBI single capped a four-run eighth-inning rally in his Dodgers debut as they beat the Padres 5-2.
With new wife Mamiko Tanaka watching from the stands, Ohtani got his first hit with the Dodgers in a 112.3 mph single to right against Yu Darvish.
“Just a good night overall for Shohei,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said.
“Overall, it’s significant because you have such generational talent that is present in your ballclub in a great market in Los Angeles. There are a lot more eyes on the Dodgers and Major League Baseball.
Ohtani went 2 for 5 with an RBI in his first game since leaving the Angels for a record 10-year, $700 million contract with the Dodgers. A crowd of 15,952 was in attendance at the Gocheok Sky Dome.
A bomb threat does not appear to have affected pre-match preparations. Police found no explosives and said they acted on information that the threat was aimed at Ohtani.
DailyMail.com has contacted MLB for comment.