Shohei Ohtani’s interpreter Ippei Mizuhara FIRED by Dodgers amid $4.5 million ‘massive theft’ allegations
Ippei Mizuhara had been Shohei Ohtani’s interpreter since 2018
Ippei Mizuhara and Shohei Ohtani (Image via Imago)
Hours after Shohei Ohtani made his official MLB debut for the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday, he and the baseball world received a major shock. The team fired his interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara after being accused of “massive theft” of Ohtani’s funds for gambling.
According to reports from Los Angeles Times, Mizuhara has been accused of using the money from the baseball star and used it to place illegal wagers. Other reports’ claim that the amount involved in this case is around $4.5 million.
This massive development comes after Shohei Ohtani‘s attorneys took some action. The lawyers would take this action after The Times claimed his (Ohtani) name had surfaced up in the investigation of Mathew Bowyer, a South California bookmaker.
We discovered that Shohei has been the victim of a massive theft and we are turning the matter over to the authorities.
West Hollywood law firm Berk Brettler said in a statement.
Though there is no actual suggestion of Ohtani gambling himself, this story has now put him under the spotlight. At the moment, sports betting is actually legal in 40 states of US. MLB players and other officials are allowed to bet on all other sports except baseball. Violation of this rule sees them get penalized by the MLB Commissioner.
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Ippei Mizuhara claims Shohei Ohtani had zero involvement in betting
The past 24 hours have been a wild one for Shohei Ohtani. Prior to the Series opener against the San Diego Padres, he found himself to be a target of a bomb threat. After that he made his much anticipated MLB debut for the Dodgers in their 5-2 win while picking up and RBI. However, the bigger story was about his interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara.
After being fired by the Dodgers, the 39-year was reached out for his comments. While speaking with ESPN on this matter, the interpreter came into the defense of Ohtani and claimed that he was not involved in any kind of sports betting.
Ippei Mizuhara and Shohei Ohtani (Image via Imago)
Mizuhara first admitted to being a huge debt due to his gambling and informed the world of asking help from Ohtani. He further added that the two-way superstar was not happy with his problems but still helped him out pay off the debt.
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.
Ippei Mizuhara said via ESPN.
The two of them first came into contact in 2018. Since then Mizuhara had been the official translator of Ohtani and would travel with him everywhere. Over their years, their relationship was described like a brotherhood that went beyond just friendship. This development though has now probably damaged it. What happens from here on with the two of them will be interesting to see.
