Representatives of Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani have accused his interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, of engaging in a “massive theft” of Ohtani’s funds to place bets with an allegedly illegal bookmaker. The accusations came to light during an ongoing federal investigation into Mathew Bowyer, an Orange County resident. Ohtani’s lawyers discovered the alleged theft while responding to media inquiries and have decided to turn the matter over to the authorities.
Sources close to the matter have revealed that the amount of money involved in the theft is in the millions of dollars. Mizuhara, who was fired by the Dodgers, allegedly placed bets with Bowyer, who is currently under investigation but has not been charged with a crime. Bowyer’s attorney, Diane Bass, stated that her client had no contact with Ohtani.
Major League Baseball (MLB) has not been contacted by prosecutors regarding this investigation. MLB’s gambling policy strictly prohibits players, umpires, club or league officials, and employees from betting on the game or engaging in illegal bets on other sports. The punishment for such actions is left to the discretion of the Commissioner.
The investigation into Bowyer is being conducted by the same prosecution team that has targeted a multi-million-dollar illegal sports gambling scheme centered in Orange County. This wider probe has resulted in charges against several individuals, including former Dodger Yasiel Puig. Mizuhara, a Japanese-born interpreter who grew up in Southern California, has been Ohtani’s personal interpreter since his time with the Nippon-Ham Fighters in Japan.
Ohtani, a global sensation and one of the most celebrated athletes in the world, signed a record-breaking 10-year, $700 million contract with the Dodgers in December. Currently in Seoul for a season-opening series against the San Diego Padres, Ohtani could not be reached for comment.
The U.S. attorney’s office in Los Angeles, which is overseeing the investigation, has not provided any comments on the matter. Mizuhara’s dismissal by the Dodgers comes as a significant development, as he has been a constant companion to Ohtani throughout his MLB career.
