(KTLA) — Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani may have been swindled out of a “massive” amount of money by his interpreter, according to a bombshell report published on Wednesday.
Interpreter Ippei Mizuhara, 39, was fired Wednesday following reports from the Los Angeles Times and ESPN about his alleged ties to an illegal bookmaker.
Mizuhara allegedly placed bets with Orange County resident Mathew Bowyer, who is under federal investigation, the Times reported. 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, according to the Times.
ESPN reported that the misappropriated amount was at least $4.5 million in wire transfers. Those transfers were allegedly 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 said it spoke to Mizuhara on Tuesday night, at which point the interpreter said Ohtani had paid his gambling debts at Mizuhara’s request. After the statement from Ohtani’s attorneys saying the player was a victim of theft, ESPN said Mizuhara changed his story Wednesday and claimed Ohtani had no knowledge of the gambling debts.
Mizuhara reportedly told the sports outlet that Ohtani had “zero involvement in betting” and stipulated that the star never sent money to the bookie’s associate. 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)
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 reported.
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.
The Associated Press and KTLA’s Travis Schlepp contributed to this report.