When it comes to hiring, former Shohei Ohtani interpreter Ippei Mizuhara has turned out badly for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
What else was there to say after Otani read a lengthy statement alleging that Mizuhara had concocted a web of lies to cover up his gambling addiction and brazen theft of $4.5 million? Now, as Dodgers manager Dave Roberts suggested on Tuesday, the team wouldn’t be too sad to see Mizuhara go solely for his role as an interpreter.
A day after Ohtani’s remarks, Roberts told reporters that he believes the loss of Mizuhara will be good for the Dodgers from a baseball standpoint, calling the interpreter a “buffer” between the team and the players. .
From the Associated Press:
“As a matter of fact, I would argue it will help internally,” manager Dave Roberts said Tuesday before the Dodgers’ final exhibition game. “Because the buffer is gone. I feel like we’ve already seen it in the last few days. I think Shohei is engaging more actively with his teammates, and I think that can only be positive.”
Roberts too reportedly He said it was sometimes “difficult” to work with Otani through Suwon.
Mizuhara’s successor was Will Ireton, a Dodgers employee who served as translator for Japanese pitcher Kenta Maeda from 2016 to 2018. Since then, Ireton has worked in the Dodgers’ baseball operations department, most recently serving as manager of performance operations.
Ippei Mizuhara was a “buffer” after Shohei Ohtani reached MLB.
As the scandal surrounding Mizuhara and Otani unravels, it becomes increasingly clear that Mizuhara had an incredible influence on Otani’s life and career in the United States. Ohtani said he had not heard anything about the liquor scandal from American representatives until Mizuhara admitted he had a gambling problem in the Dodgers’ clubhouse.
MLB players from Asia who don’t speak English rely heavily on interpreters to communicate with coaches, teammates and reporters. These are players navigating in a foreign country with little experience. Mizuhara was Otani’s interpreter, personal assistant, confidant, driver, catch partner, analyst, rehabilitation partner, and friend.
The Angels appeared to have similar experience working with Ohtani as the Dodgers. One Sports Illustrated story show:
When they arrived at the BART station that afternoon, Mizuhara’s phone rang with a text message from manager Joe Maddon. Should Ohtani’s start be delayed by a day to give him time to properly warm up? Or would it interfere with other elements of the routine? Mizuhara consulted with Ohtani, and the two quickly weighed up team and individual needs, sending back the verdict: “That’s fine with Shohei.”
The Dodgers knew this when they signed Ohtani and hired Mizuhara, and apparently were fully open to it. reportedly Mizuhara’s salary will increase from $85,000 to mid-six figures. Perhaps the team considered that the cost of doing business with Ohtani, but it turned out to be much more costly.
