Shohei Ohtani’s Translator Fired Amid Accusations of Theft of ‘Millions of Dollars’

Ippei Mizuhara, Ohtani’s longtime friend, is being accused by the superstar’s lawyers of using Ohtani’s money to place bets with an illegal bookmaker.

The translator and close friend of Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani, Ippei Mizuhara, has been fired by the team after a Los Angeles Times report said Mizuhara was accused by Ohtani’s lawyers of the theft of “millions of dollars” from Ohtani.

According to the report, Ohtani’s legal team accused Mizuhara of using Ohtani’s funds to place bets with an illegal bookmaker, Mathew Bowyer, who is under federal investigation.

In a statement to the Los Angeles Times, the Hollywood law firm, Berk Brettler LLP, said, “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.”

A spokesperson for MLB said the league first learned of Mizuhara’s betting when contacted by media outlets and has not heard from federal investigators. Mizuhara was with Ohtani as recently as Wednesday for the first game of the Dodgers’ season-opening two-game series against the San Diego Padres in Seoul, Korea.

According to a report from ESPN, Mizuhara, 39, admitted to running up gambling debts on sports other than baseball with the bookmaker, claiming he did not know the activity was illegal. ESPN reported that Mizuhara first told ESPN on Tuesday that Ohtani wired payments to cover his debts, which ESPN reported surpassed $4.5 million. But on Wednesday, Mizuhara told ESPN that Ohtani had no knowledge of his gambling debuts and had not transferred money.

Mizuhara, right, was fired by the Dodgers on Wednesday :: Kirby Lee/USA TODAY Sports

According to MLB Rule 21 (d) (3), “any player, umpire, or Club or League official or employee who places bets with illegal book makers, or agents for illegal book makers, shall be subject to such penalty as the Commissioner deems appropriate in light of the facts and circumstances of the conduct.”

The rule goes on to define an illegal bookmaker as “an individual who accepts, places or handles wagers on sporting events from members of the public as part of a gaming operation that is unlawful in the jurisdiction in which the bets are accepted.” California is one of 12 states in which sports betting remains illegal.

Though Mizuhara worked exclusively with Ohtani, he also was an employee of the Dodgers. MLB requires that all translators be club employees, given their full access to team facilities. Now that Mizuhara has been fired by the Dodgers and law enforcement authorities are involved in the case, MLB has no urgency to act.

More than a translator, Mizuhara has been an important part of Ohtani’s success since before Ohtani joined MLB in 2017. He is also a close confidant and training partner. As Dodgers pitcher Walker Buehler told SI in an Ohtani cover story in the magazine this week, “His interpreter is his secret sauce. He does a great job recording data and remembering. I’m sure Shohei does as well, but Ippei monitors and follows. They’re both pros.”

Mizuhara, left, knew Ohtani before the superstar signed with the Los Angeles Angels in 2017 :: Kirby Lee/USA TODAY Sports

The more severe penalties associated with Rule 21 involve betting on baseball. Those who bet on baseball games not involving their team are declared ineligible for one year. Those who place bets on “any baseball game in connection with which the bettor has a duty to perform shall be declared permanently ineligible.” Pete Rose, for instance, was found to be in violation of that section of Rule 21, known as (d) (2).

Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred has sole discretion on discipline for violations of Rule 21 (d) (3).

The last time MLB levied discipline related to Rule 21 (d) (3) came in 2015, just three months into Manfred’s term as commissioner. His office launched an investigation in March of that year after Marlins pitcher Jarred Cosart tweeted about betting “large.” Cosart cooperated with the investigation, which found Cosart did not bet on baseball but did violate the rule. Manfred fined Cosart an undisclosed sum on April 3, 2015.