The latest on the firing of Shohei Ohtani’s interpreter amid questions about the transfer of $4.5 million from Ohtani’s bank account to a bookmaking operation under federal investigation, from ESPN’s Tisha Thompson: https://t.co/M8qfg9lElk pic.twitter.com/reo8s272Pb

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) March 20, 2024

Via ESPN

The Los Angeles Dodgers interpreter for Shohei Ohtani was fired Wednesday afternoon after questions surrounding at least $4.5 million in wire transfers sent from Ohtani’s bank account to a bookmaking operation set off a series of events.

Ippei Mizuhara, the longtime friend and interpreter for Ohtani, incurred the gambling debts to a Southern California bookmaking operation that is under federal investigation, multiple sources told ESPN. How he came to lose his job started with reporters asking questions about the wire transfers.

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.

“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,” read the statement from Berk Brettler LLP.

After Ohtani agreed to pay the debts, Mizuhara said on Tuesday, Ohtani logged onto his own computer and sent the wire transfers under Mizuhara’s supervision in installments over several months last year. They added “loan” to the description field in the transactions.

“We had to add a description for the wire,” Mizuhara said. “I think Matt [Bowyer] might have told me to just put ‘loan.’ You had to put something.” Asked why Ohtani didn’t simply give him the money instead of paying Bowyer’s associate directly, Mizuhara said Ohtani didn’t trust him with the money. “He didn’t want me to gamble it away,” Mizuhara said. Mizuhara said he told Ohtani he would pay him back.

When an ESPN reporter asked Ohtani’s camp about the allegation from Mizuhara that Ohtani was present and helped move the funds and that he was going to be paid back, the spokesman contacted Ohtani’s attorneys, who then issued the statement saying he was the victim of a “massive theft.”

In a shocking turn of events, the Los Angeles Dodgers found themselves embroiled in a scandal of epic proportions as their interpreter for baseball phenomenon Shohei Ohtani, Ippei Mizuhara, was abruptly relieved of his duties. The catalyst? A barrage of inquiries surrounding hefty wire transfers totalling a staggering $4.5 million, funnelling from Ohtani’s bank account to a shadowy bookmaking operation nestled within Southern California.

The revelation sent shockwaves throughout the baseball community, thrusting Mizuhara into the center of a maelstrom of speculation and scrutiny. A trusted confidant and integral member of Ohtani’s inner circle, Mizuhara’s sudden fall from grace left many questioning the depths of his involvement in the seedy underbelly of sports gambling.

Sources close to the matter revealed a troubling narrative, painting Mizuhara as a casualty of his vices, ensnared by the allure of illicit wagers and clandestine dealings. The ominous spectre of a federal investigation loomed large over the operation, casting a pall of uncertainty over Mizuhara’s future and tarnishing the reputation of the Dodgers organization.

As the saga unfolded, it became increasingly evident that Mizuhara’s indiscretions had far-reaching implications, implicating not only himself but also casting a shadow over the integrity of professional sports. The swift and decisive action taken by the Dodgers underscored the gravity of the situation, serving as a stark reminder of the perils that lurked beneath the veneer of athletic prowess.

In the realm of sports journalism, stories of triumph and redemption often take center stage, but the saga of Ippei Mizuhara serves as a cautionary tale, a sobering reminder of the pitfalls that await those who succumb to the temptations of the gambling underworld. As the dust settles and the fallout reverberates, one can only hope that Mizuhara’s downfall will serve as a wake-up call for athletes and interpreters alike, a stark reminder that the pursuit of glory must never come at the expense of one’s integrity.