The Los Angeles Dodgers interpreter for Shohei Ohtani was fired Wednesday afternoon due to concerns about at least $4.5 million sent from Ohtani’s bank account to a bookmaking operation. This raised questions and led to the dismissal of the Shohei Ohtani interpreter.
Ippei Mizuhara, a close friend and interpreter for Ohtani, reportedly owed gambling debts to a bookmaking operation in Southern California, which is currently under federal investigation, according to multiple sources cited by ESPN. His termination began when reporters began questioning the wire transfers. The details were first reported by the Los Angeles Times.
At first, a spokesperson for Ohtani told ESPN that the baseball player transferred the money to pay off Mizuhara’s gambling debt. The spokesperson arranged for Mizuhara to have a 90-minute interview with ESPN on Tuesday night, during which Mizuhara explained his side of the story in detail. However, as ESPN was about to publish the story on Wednesday, the spokesperson denied Mizuhara’s account and said that Ohtani’s lawyers would release a statement.
“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,” Ohtani’s law firm, Berk Brettler LLP, told the reporters.
The spokesperson refused to answer any more questions, and the statement didn’t mention who they thought was responsible for the supposed theft.
When ESPN asked Mizuhara on Wednesday afternoon about the theft accusation following Berk Brettler’s statement, he said he couldn’t comment but didn’t say who told him not to.
This week’s events unfolded as federal investigators are looking into the activities of Southern California bookmaker Mathew Bowyer. According to various sources and bank records, the wire transfers came from Ohtani’s account to someone connected to Bowyer. Several sources, including Mizuhara, informed reporters that Ohtani doesn’t gamble, and the money was to cover Mizuhara’s losses.
ESPN also examined bank records showing Ohtani’s name on two $500,000 payments made in September and October.
Although sports betting is legal in almost 40 states, it’s still against the law in California. Legal sportsbooks require bettors to pay upfront for their bets, but illegal bookmakers allow betting on credit.
People familiar with the gambling operation informed media people that Bowyer worked directly with Mizuhara, who placed bets on international soccer matches and other sports, excluding baseball, since 2021. One source mentioned that Bowyer knew about the name on the wire transfers but didn’t inquire further as long as payments were made. However, the source added that Bowyer let others believe Ohtani was a customer to attract more business.
Bowyer’s attorney, Diane Bass, said: “Mr. Bowyer never met or spoke with Shohei Ohtani.” She declined to answer any other questions.
In a Tuesday interview organized by Ohtani’s spokesperson, Mizuhara, 39, informed reporters that he requested Ohtani, 29, last year to clear his gambling debt, which multiple sources indicated had grown to at least $4.5 million. Mizuhara mentioned that he had previously made bets through DraftKings and believed that bets placed through Bowyer were also legal.
“Obviously, he [Ohtani] wasn’t happy about it and said he would help me out to make sure I never do this again,” Mizuhara said. “He decided to pay it off for me.”
“I want everyone to know Shohei had zero involvement in betting. I want people to know I did not know this was illegal. I learned my lesson the hard way. I will never do sports betting ever again.”
However, on Wednesday afternoon, Mizuhara informed reporters that Ohtani was unaware of his gambling debts and hadn’t sent money to the bookmaker’s associate.
In January this year, as part of investigation into Bowyer’s bookmaking operation, Federal authorities learned of Ohtani’s wire-payments. A source revealed that “Shohei Otani” and the word “loan” are visible alongside various bank account and wire-transfer information.
Officials from the U.S. attorney’s office in the Central District of California chose not to provide any comments. Similarly, an attorney representing Bowyer’s bookmaking associate also declined to comment. According to two sources, federal authorities have not reached out to either Ohtani or Mizuhara.
Bowyer, aged 48, might be facing serious criminal charges. Sources and documents revealed that federal authorities raided his home in October. A search warrant inventory showed that agents seized various items, including cash, casino chips, banking documents, a money counting machine, multiple computers, portable storage devices, and cellphones. Additionally, they confiscated two Breitling watches and nearly a dozen luxury handbags from brands like Louis Vuitton, Chanel, and Hermès.
Shohei Ohtani and his translator share both a personal and professional bond. Since the star athlete came to the United States in 2018, Mizuhara has been by his side, interpreting for him in various settings like dugouts, locker rooms, and media events. This close relationship has made Mizuhara well-known among baseball fans. He not only interprets for Ohtani but also discusses game strategies with him and assists him during matches. The two are inseparable, with Mizuhara even running errands for Ohtani and being described by a teammate as part of a special “brotherhood” that extends beyond friendship.
How Much Does Shohei Ohtani’s Translator Make?
Mizuhara, Shohei Ohtani’s translator, worked under contract with the Los Angeles Angels while Ohtani was with the team and joined the Dodgers this past offseason. He said that he has been earning between $300,000 and $500,000 each year.