New Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani had a big role in their regular-season opening win over the San Diego Padres in South Korea early Wednesday morning.
But that is not the MLB story we’re going to be talking about moving forward this week and month. There is some potentially huge news breaking from Southern California involving the record-setting two-way player and his interpreter.
The Los Angeles Times reported on Wednesday that representatives for Ohtani have accused his interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, of millions in theft in order to place bets with an illegal bookmaker.
Per the report, Ohtani’s name came up in a federal investigation into illegal bookmaker Matt Bowyer.
“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 lawyers said in a statement.
Per the LA Times report, the Dodgers have responded by firing Mizuhara.
Shohei Ohtani had Ippei Mizuhara written into Los Angeles Dodgers contract
The $700 million contract Ohtani signed with Los Angeles this past winter had a clause written into it to take care of Mizuhara. Said clause concluded that Ohtani could opt out of his contract if a certain member of the organization was fired.
While it’s not 100% known whether he was the employee in question, the Dodgers did take that rare step to provide Ohtani with his own team-employed interpreter and Mizuhara with certain perks.
The two had worked together since Ohtani came over to the Los Angeles Dodgers from Japan back in 2017.
Per Bob Nightengale of USA Today Sports, Ohtani and Mizuhara had become best friends since they started working together. He was well liked by Angels players earlier in Ohtani’s career and the Dodgers this spring.
ESPN’s Tisha Thompson followed up the initial LA Times report with more details regarding a $4.5 million funds transfer from Ohtani’s bank to a bookmaking operation.
“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.”
Report on the Shohei Ohtani situation
As for the federal investigation, the fallout continues to be felt. Bowyer’s name has been mentioned multiple times surrounding a Las Vegas-based investigation involving former minor league baseball player Wayne Nix. Said investigation has forced MGM Grand and Resorts World Las Vegas to move on from former president Scott Sibella.
Yeah, this Shohei Ohtani story is not dying down any time soon. Insane stuff just one game into his Dodgers career.