Shohei Ohtani Speaks Out Amidst Allegations of Theft and Gambling Involving His Former Interpreter
Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani is expected to address the media on Monday, following allegations of massive theft and gambling involving his former interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara. The Dodgers manager, Dave Roberts, expressed his eagerness for Ohtani to speak out about the situation and provide some clarity on the matter.
The Dodgers secured a 5-3 victory over Ohtani’s former team, the Los Angeles Angels, before Monday’s highly anticipated faceoff at Dodger Stadium. Mizuhara was dismissed after Ohtani’s lawyers accused him of embezzling millions of dollars and placing bets with a bookmaker under federal investigation.
The scandal, which has overshadowed the beginning of Major League Baseball’s new season and raised concerns regarding Ohtani’s reputation, brought renewed scrutiny to the relationship between professional sports and gambling.
Mathew Bowyer, the former bookmaker under federal investigation for gambling, stated that he had no direct contact with Ohtani but did conduct business deals with Mizuhara. Bowyer also emphasized that Mizuhara never bet on baseball.
Major League Baseball and the Internal Revenue Service have initiated separate investigations into Mizuhara and Bowyer. While Bowyer is currently under federal investigation, he has yet to be charged with a crime.
Ohtani and Mizuhara first collaborated from 2013 to 2017 while serving as translators for the Nippon-Ham Fighters, Ohtani’s team in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball League. When Ohtani joined the Los Angeles Angels in 2018, he invited Mizuhara to join him as his translator during his rookie season. Eventually, Mizuhara followed Ohtani to the Dodgers.
According to ESPN, at least $4.5 million was withdrawn from Ohtani’s bank accounts via wire transfers. However, the source of these transfers remains unclear.
Mizuhara and Ohtani’s representatives have been contacted for comment regarding the allegations, but no further details about the stolen funds or the scandal have emerged.
Bowyer’s attorney, Diane Bass, shared that Bowyer dealt with Mizuhara regarding a bet on one of the wire transfers to Bowyer’s organization. According to Bass, Bowyer believed that Ohtani was covering the bet for Mizuhara.
Bowyer met Mizuhara after a Padres game in San Diego in 2022, and Bass did not disclose how frequently Mizuhara placed bets or the extent of his gambling activities. She also stressed that Mizuhara’s gambling “got out of hand at a certain point,” but he made regular payments to cover the debt.
Mizuhara told ESPN on Tuesday that he never bet on baseball and was unaware of any rules prohibiting interpreters from placing bets. Bass clarified that Mizuhara’s gambling activities were primarily focused on soccer, with occasional football and basketball betting, but never involving baseball.
The investigation into Mizuhara and Bowyer began after reporters inquired about the alleged wire transfers from Ohtani’s bank account. The saga unfolded as follows:
• Mizuhara disclosed to ESPN that he asked Ohtani to pay off his gambling debt in the previous year, with no involvement from Ohtani in the betting.
• Ohtani’s spokesperson later disavowed Mizuhara’s account and claimed that Ohtani was a victim of theft.
• On the same day, Mizuhara was seen smiling in the LA dugout and conversing with Ohtani prior to translating for him during the team’s 5-2 victory over the San Diego Padres in the MLB season-opening game in Seoul, South Korea.
• Mizuhara was subsequently dismissed as Ohtani’s interpreter.
MLB announced that it would be pursuing an investigation into the matter on Friday, with the IRS also confirming its involvement in probing the translator.
In conclusion, Shohei Ohtani’s address to the media on Monday is highly anticipated as it may shed light on this complex and evolving situation involving allegations of theft, gambling, and Mizuhara’s role in Ohtani’s professional career.
