Shohei Ohtani, a two-time MVP with the Los Angeles Dodgers, held a news conference where he denied any involvement in gambling activities. Ohtani’s longtime interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, was fired by the Dodgers after reports emerged of his ties to an illegal bookmaker and debts exceeding $1 million. Ohtani claimed that Mizuhara had been stealing money from his account and lying to him for years. The Japanese star emphasized that he never bet on sports or knowingly sent money to a bookmaker, stating that he was shocked and saddened by Mizuhara’s actions.
Ohtani detailed how Mizuhara deceived him and reiterated multiple times that he had no knowledge of the gambling activities taking place. The Dodgers player did not provide specifics on how Mizuhara was able to access and use his funds for gambling purposes. Ohtani and Mizuhara had a close relationship, with Mizuhara serving as Ohtani’s interpreter since he joined the Los Angeles Angels in 2018. The news of Mizuhara’s gambling scandal broke shortly after Ohtani signed a record-breaking $700 million contract with the Dodgers, causing a significant stir within the baseball community.
Despite the controversy surrounding Mizuhara, Ohtani received support from his new teammates, with veterans Kiké Hernández and Joe Kelly attending the news conference to show their backing. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts expressed his support for Ohtani and emphasized the importance of focusing on baseball moving forward. The IRS has confirmed that Mizuhara and the alleged bookmaker, Mathew Bowyer, are under investigation. MLB rules prohibit players and team employees from engaging in any form of wagering on sports, including with illegal or offshore bookmakers.
Ohtani disclosed that he first learned of Mizuhara’s gambling issues during a team meeting following a victory over the San Diego Padres in Seoul, South Korea. Despite not being fluent in English, Ohtani was able to understand the gravity of the situation as Mizuhara confessed to using Ohtani’s account to make payments to the bookmaker. This revelation came as a shock to Ohtani, who immediately sought assistance from his representatives. The Dodgers player expressed his shock and disbelief at the situation and vowed to cooperate with ongoing investigations into the matter.
Following the news conference, Ohtani returned to the field to play in an exhibition game against his former team, the Los Angeles Angels. Despite the distractions and challenges he faced off the field, Ohtani remained focused on his performance, grounding out twice and walking as the designated hitter for the Dodgers. The crowd at Chavez Ravine showed their support for Ohtani during the game, despite the uncomfortable circumstances surrounding him. Ohtani acknowledged his shock and stated that he would leave matters in the hands of his lawyers while fully cooperating with the ongoing investigations.
As the baseball season was set to kick off, Ohtani remained committed to assisting in all investigations related to the gambling scandal involving his former interpreter. The Dodgers player expressed his gratitude for the support he received from his teammates and the fans, acknowledging the challenging situation he found himself in. Ohtani’s focus remained on the upcoming games, as he prepared to face his former team once again in Anaheim. Despite the tumultuous events leading up to the season, Ohtani remained determined to excel on the field and let his performance speak for itself.
