MLB
Shohei Ohtani’s translator may have bet years ago that no one would fact-check his MLB staff history.
If so, he was wrong.
Ippei Mizuhara, Ohtani’s close friend and now fired English-Japanese translator, allegedly stole $4.5 million from the Dodgers superstar to cover his own gambling losses.
There are many unanswered questions surrounding this scandal, including that Ohtani knowingly gave money to illegal bookmakers to cover a friend’s debt, as Mizuhara initially claimed before he was charged with theft. Did you pay? — Mizuara’s mysterious past has come under scrutiny for its contradictions.
Mizuhara’s Angels biography (he served as Ohtani’s interpreter from 2018 to 2023) states that he graduated from the University of California, Riverside in 2007.
However, as originally reported, Provided by NBC Los Angelesthere are no supporting records in the university’s database.
“Our university records have no record of a student named Ippei Mizuhara attending UC Riverside,” the spokesperson said. told The Athletic.
The school did not respond to The Athletic’s inquiries about whether Mizuhara may have gone by a different or similar name.
The series of questions surrounding Mizuhara, who has not yet been charged with any crime, stems from his past MLB experience as an interpreter for former pitcher Hideki Okajima.
Multiple reports have reported that Mizuhara worked with Okajima for the Red Sox in 2010.
The Red Sox disputed this claim, but Boston’s media guide for that season lists two other people as interpreters for Okajima, so it’s unclear where it started.
What you need to know about Shohei Otani’s accusations against his former interpreter
A lawyer representing Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani has accused former interpreter and longtime friend Ippei Mizuhara of “grand theft” in connection with a $4.5 million bombing.
After signing a 10-year, $700 million contract this offseason with the Angels, the two-time AL MVP reportedly had huge gambling debts that needed to be repaid.
Mizuhara initially said ESPN Ohtani had offered to repay his debt, but later changed his story and claimed he had no knowledge of the 8-9 wire transfer from Ohtani’s account to an alleged illegal bookmaker.
According to ESPN, the Ohtani camp “denied” Mizuhara’s initial story.
Ohtani was fired shortly after the Dodgers’ season opener against the Padres in Seoul, South Korea, and although Ohtani’s camp is seeking a law enforcement investigation following an investigation by the National Tax Agency, Ohtani has not yet spoken publicly about the situation. .
“I’ve never bet on baseball,” Mizuhara told ESPN. “That’s 100 percent. I knew that rule. … We’re going to have a meeting in spring training about it.”
Both sides maintain that Ohtani is not involved in any gambling.
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According to The Athletic, the Red Sox issued a statement to multiple media outlets saying, “We are contacting everyone following reports that Ippei Mizuhara was working as an interpreter for the Red Sox. It is a mistake.”
“Mizuhara was never employed by the Boston Red Sox in any capacity, nor did he serve as an interpreter for Hideki Okajima during his time as a pitcher. We have reviewed the file to ensure that we are providing accurate information. Please be aware that we are checking thoroughly.”
According to Mizuhara’s biography, he served as an interpreter for Okajima with the Yankees during spring training in 2012.
The problem is that Okajima was released by the Yankees on February 17, 2012 — before the official start of spring training, but weeks before players typically report to team facilities for training. It is possible that he was with Okajima. themselves.
According to the Associated Press, MLB is investigating the situation and the IRS has opened a criminal investigation into Mizuhara.
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