Interpreter Ippei Mizuhara, aged 39, was dismissed from the team on Wednesday subsequent to reports from the Los Angeles Times and ESPN regarding his purported connections to an illicit bookmaker. This incident unfolded while the team was in Seoul, South Korea, for Ohtani’s debut with the Dodgers. Mizuhara had been present in the Los Angeles’ dugout during their inaugural win of the season.
Frequently, Mizuhara was observed conversing with Ohtani, who served as the Dodgers’ designated hitter, ostensibly engaging in discussions regarding his at-bats while utilizing a tablet computer.
“In addressing recent media inquiries, it has come to our attention that Shohei has fallen victim to significant theft, and we are now involving the authorities,” stated law firm Berk Brettler LLP on Wednesday.
It’s worth noting that sports gambling is prohibited in California, although it’s permitted in 38 states and the District of Columbia to varying extents.
Mizuhara has been a recognizable figure among baseball enthusiasts, serving as Ohtani’s constant companion, providing interpretation services for media interactions and other engagements since Ohtani’s arrival in the U.S. back in 2017. Notably, he even acted as Ohtani’s catcher during the Home Run Derby at the 2021 All-Star Game. When Ohtani transitioned from the Los Angeles Angels to sign a lucrative $700 million, 10-year contract with the Dodgers in December, Mizuhara was also brought on board by the club.
The Dodgers issued a statement acknowledging their awareness of the media reports and their ongoing efforts to gather information. They confirmed the termination of interpreter Ippei Mizuhara but declined further comment at this time.
During an interview with ESPN on Tuesday, Mizuhara admitted to placing bets on international soccer, the NBA, the NFL, and college football. However, he emphasized that he never wagered on baseball, citing his familiarity with MLB regulations, which strictly forbid players and team staff from engaging in any form of betting on baseball, even if legal. Mizuhara stated that this rule was emphasized during spring training meetings.
Mizuhara, originally from Japan, relocated to the Los Angeles area in 1991, where he attended Diamond Bar High School before graduating from the University of California, Riverside, in 2007.
In 2013, he returned to Japan to serve as a translator for English-speaking players on the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters, where he first encountered Ohtani, who joined the team the same year.
Following Ohtani’s signing with the Angels in 2017, Mizuhara was recruited by the team to serve as Ohtani’s personal interpreter. According to ESPN, Mizuhara claimed to have received an annual salary ranging from $300,000 to $500,000.
However, during further discussions with ESPN on Tuesday night, Mizuhara asserted that Ohtani settled his gambling debts at Mizuhara’s request. Nevertheless, following the statement released by Ohtani’s legal team claiming the player’s unawareness of the gambling debts, Mizuhara altered his stance on Wednesday, asserting that Ohtani had no knowledge of his gambling debts and had not transferred any funds to bookmakers.
Mizuhara disclosed that his debts exceeded $1 million by the end of 2022 and continued to escalate thereafter.
“I’m terrible at gambling. I won’t ever do it again. I never made any money,” Mizuhara admitted. “I dug myself into a hole, and it just kept getting deeper. I had to bet bigger to try to get out of it, but I just kept losing. It was like a snowball effect.”
This incident marks one of the most significant gambling scandals in baseball since Pete Rose accepted a lifetime ban in 1989, following an investigation by lawyer John Dowd, which revealed Rose’s extensive bets on the Cincinnati Reds to win during his tenure as a player and manager.
The MLB’s stringent gambling policy, prominently displayed in every locker room, prohibits players and team personnel from participating in any form of betting on baseball, even legally, as well as betting on other sports through illegal or offshore means. Violating these regulations carries severe penalties, including a one-year ban from the sport for betting on baseball and discretionary penalties for betting on other sports illegally.
Ohtani’s global popularity persists, despite his inclination towards privacy. News of his recent marriage to Mamiko Tanaka surprised fans worldwide. Although sidelined from pitching this season due to elbow surgery last September, Ohtani continues to contribute as a designated hitter, with the potential for field appearances. In his debut game against the San Diego Padres in Seoul, he went 2 for 5 with an RBI.
