Explosive allegations have surfaced regarding Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani's longtime interpreter, accusing him of embezzling millions of dollars for illegal gambling purposes, as detailed in a report by The Los Angeles Times.
According to Ohtani's attorneys at Berk Brettler LLP, Ippei Mizuhara, who has been Ohtani's interpreter since his MLB debut in 2018, is accused of orchestrating a "massive theft" of Ohtani's funds to place bets with bookmaker Matthew Bowyer, who is currently under federal investigation.
In a statement released by Berk Brettler LLP, they expressed, "In the course of responding to recent media inquiries, we discovered that Shohei has been the victim of a massive theft and we are turning the matter over to the authorities."
The Dodgers organization confirmed Mizuhara's termination on Wednesday in response to the unfolding situation. A team spokesperson conveyed in a statement:
Shohei Ohtani Linked to Illegal Gambling Operation
Recent reports suggest that a substantial amount of money, rumored to be over $4.5 million, has been traced back to Shohei Ohtani's bank accounts and transferred to an illicit bookmaking operation.
Initially, Ohtani's spokesperson claimed that the funds were used to settle a gambling debt owed by an individual named Mizuhara. However, conflicting statements emerged as the spokesperson later retracted the initial account, leading Ohtani's legal team to announce an impending statement.
Legal representatives for another individual, Bowyer, denied any involvement with Ohtani and emphasized that he has not faced any criminal charges in connection to the matter.
Mizuhara, the alleged recipient of the transferred funds, stated in an interview with ESPN that his wagers primarily focused on sports other than baseball, such as major American sports and international soccer.
Investigation Underway by US Attorney's Office
The United States Attorney's Office in Los Angeles has confirmed an ongoing investigation into the aforementioned allegations involving Shohei Ohtani's potential ties to illegal gambling activities. They declined to provide further comments at this time.
This investigation is said to be linked to a prior case involving former Dodgers player Yasiel Puig and ex-minor league player Wayne Nix, both implicated in illegal gambling activities. Puig, who initially intended to plead guilty to charges in November 2022, later changed course and entered a not guilty plea in February 2023.
Prior to this recent development, media coverage extensively documented the relationship between Ohtani and Mizuhara, generating significant interest across various sports news outlets nationwide.
Following his departure from the Angels to ink a historic 10-year, $700 million deal with the Dodgers post the 2023 season, Mizuhara's move to join him seemed inevitable. The duo was last spotted together in Seoul, South Korea on Tuesday during their inaugural game of the season against the San Diego Padres.
His collaboration with Ohtani began in 2017 when he was assigned to assist Ohtani after he was posted to sign with MLB by the Nippon Professional Baseball League's Nippon-Ham Fighters.
The Major League Baseball Player Association has stated that they will refrain from making any comments on the ongoing investigation.
