Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani may have been swindled out of a “massive” amount of money by his interpreter, according to a bombshell report published on Wednesday.
Ippei Mizuhara, Ohtani’s interpreter, allegedly placed bets with Orange County resident Mathew Bowyer, who is under federal investigation, as reported in the Los Angeles Times.
Bowyer’s attorney said her client has not been charged with a crime and never interacted with the baseball star.
The amount stolen is believed to be in the millions of dollars, the Times added.
ESPN later reported that the misappropriated amount was at least $4.5 million in wire transfers. Those transfers were sent to an associate of Bowyer’s, ESPN noted.
West Hollywood law firm Berk Brettler said in a statement that “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.”
ESPN detailed that the federal investigation surfaced Ohtani’s name, and the player had transferred funds to cover Mizuhara’s debt — at least, that was what Ohtani’s spokesman initially told the Worldwide Leader in Sports.
“The spokesman presented Mizuhara to ESPN for a 90-minute interview Tuesday night, during which Mizuhara laid out his account in great detail,” wrote ESPN’s Tisha Thompson. “However, as ESPN prepared to publish the story Wednesday, the spokesman disavowed Mizuhara’s account and said Ohtani’s lawyers would issue a statement.”
Mizuhara told ESPN that Ohtani had “zero involvement in betting” and stipulated that the star never sent money to the bookie’s associate nor even knew that Mizuhara had a gambling debt.
Mizuhara also avowed that he only bet on the NBA, NFL, college football and international soccer.
Betting on baseball in any way is banned by the MLB, as is using an illegal bookmaker or offshore website. Any sports bets placed in California are illegal, as the state has not legalized it.
Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani, right, talks with interpreter Ippei Mizuhara during the ninth inning of an opening day baseball game against the San Diego Padres at the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, South Korea Wednesday, March 20, 2024, in Seoul, South Korea. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man) 
Dodgers slugger Shohei Ohtani, wife Mamiko Tanaka, pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto and translator Ippei Mizuhara are pictured in an Instagram story shared by the MLB star on March 14, 2024. 
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani, center, with interpreter Ippei Mizuhara, left, talks with coach Dino Ebel, right, during spring training baseball workouts at Camelback Ranch in Phoenix, Sunday, March 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) 
Los Angeles Dodgers Shohei Ohtani poses for a portrait during a spring training baseball team photo day at Camelback Ranch in Phoenix, Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024. His interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, is at left. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Mizuhara was fired by the Dodgers on Wednesday, the team told the Times.
Prior to his firing, Mizuhara garnered attention round the sports world for his close relationship with Ohtani, who recently signed with the Dodgers for $700 million and personally selected Mizuhara to be his interpreter.
For that work, Mizuhara was paid between $300,000 and $500,000 annually, ESPN reports.
As the person responsible for handling communications for one of the biggest stars in the sport, the two were almost always together, as he told the Athletic.
“I’m with him all offseason too … I’m with him 365 days of the year,” said Mizuhara, a graduate of Diamond Bar High School.
Last year, the MLB highlighted their relationship by referencing the first-name basis on which the interpreter had become known to many fans.
“One of the best friendships in baseball, Shohei and Ippei,” the league said on X, formerly Twitter.
A statement given to KTLA from a Dodgers spokesperson said:
“The Dodgers are aware of media reports and are gathering information. The team can confirm that interpreter Ippei Mizuhara has been terminated. The team has no further comment at this time.”
Travis Schlepp contributed to this report.
