{"id":85550,"date":"2024-03-26T22:53:14","date_gmt":"2024-03-26T22:53:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2024\/03\/26\/shohei-ohtanis-translator-under-investigation-what-we-know\/"},"modified":"2024-03-26T22:53:14","modified_gmt":"2024-03-26T22:53:14","slug":"shohei-ohtanis-translator-under-investigation-what-we-know","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2024\/03\/26\/shohei-ohtanis-translator-under-investigation-what-we-know\/","title":{"rendered":"Shohei Ohtani\u2019s Translator Under Investigation: What We Know"},"content":{"rendered":"


\n<\/p>\n

\n
\n
<\/div>

\n Shohei Ohtani, Ippei Mizuhara<\/span> Gene Wang\/Getty Images; Ronald Martinez\/Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Los Angeles Dodgers player Shohei Ohtani<\/strong><\/a> has found himself in the middle of a baseball scandal.<\/p>\n

Just weeks before Major League Baseball\u2019s 2024 season officially kicks off, Ohtani\u2019s interpreter Ippei Mizuhara<\/strong> was fired by the Dodgers for allegedly taking significant sums of money from the player in an effort to settle gambling debts.<\/p>\n

Law enforcement authorities and MLB\u2019s department of investigations have launched separate probes into the allegations.<\/p>\n

As for Ohtani<\/a>, 29, the MLB All-Star has maintained he had no involvement with gambling and was the victim of a \u201cmassive theft.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\n
\"MLB-s<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\n

\n\t\t\tRelated: <\/span>MLB Dads: Baseball Players Whose Kids Are Their No. 1 Fans<\/span><\/a>
\n\t\t<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

\n\t\t\tTake me out to the ballgame takes on a different meaning when your dad is an MLB player like Clayton Kershaw or Freddie Freeman. Kershaw, who has been an All-star a pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers since 2008, has long been a fan-favorite in L.A. He also has plenty of fans at home \u2014 [\u2026]\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve never bet on baseball or any other sport or ever asked anyone to do it on my behalf,\u201d Ohtani said during a press conference<\/a> on Monday, March 25. \u201cI never went through a bookmaker to bet on sports.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n

As the Dodgers prepare for their stadium opener on Thursday, March 28, here\u2019s a look at everything we know about the scandal centered around Ohtani and Mizuhara, 29.\n<\/p>\n

Who Is Ippei Mizuhara?<\/b><\/h3>\n
\n
\"MLB<\/div>
Michael Zagaris\/Oakland Athletics\/Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Wherever Ohtani went, Mizuhara likely followed as he served as the MLB player\u2019s longtime friend and training partner. He had been by Ohtani\u2019s side ever since he started his MLB career with the Los Angeles Angels in 2018. When Ohtani signed his record-breaking $700 million deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers in December 2023, Mizuhara was hired by the team as well.<\/p>\n

During his time with the Dodgers, Mizuhara served as Ohtani\u2019s interpreter in press conferences, in the clubhouse, in the dugout and at select public appearances.<\/p>\n

Why Is Mizuhara Being Investigated?\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n

According to ESPN<\/a>, Mizuhara was fired from the Dodgers after questions surrounding at least $4.5 million in wire transfers sent from Ohtani\u2019s bank account to a bookmaking operation set off a series of events.<\/p>\n

Mizuhara allegedly incurred the gambling debts to a Southern California bookmaking operation that is under federal investigation, multiple sources told ESPN. Reporters started asking questions about the wire transfers, leading Ohtani\u2019s team to investigate.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn the course of responding to recent media inquiries, we discovered that Shohei has been the victim of a massive theft,\u201d a statement from Ohtani\u2019s attorneys read, \u201cand we are turning the matter over to the authorities.\u201d<\/p>\n

While sports betting is legal in nearly 40 states, it remains illegal in California where Ohtani and Mizuhara work.<\/p>\n

Does Mizuhara Blame Ohtani?<\/b><\/h3>\n
\n
\"MLB<\/div>
Masterpress\/Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In an interview arranged by Ohtani\u2019s spokesperson on March 19, Mizuhara told ESPN that he asked Ohtani to pay off his gambling debt in 2023.\u00a0 \u201cObviously, [Ohtani] wasn\u2019t happy about it and said he would help me out to make sure I never do this again,\u201d Mizuhara said. \u201cHe decided to pay it off for me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI want everyone to know Shohei had zero involvement in betting,\u201d he continued. \u201cI want people to know I did not know this was illegal. I learned my lesson the hard way. I will never do sports betting ever again.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\n
\"Ryan<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\n

\n\t\t\tRelated: <\/span>Biggest Olympics Scandals Ever: Nancy Kerrigan’s Attack and More<\/span><\/a>
\n\t\t<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

\n\t\t\tAll the drama! The Olympics may be an event that is all about the sports activities, but that doesn\u2019t mean that the most shocking things happen during the tournaments. Throughout the years, many controversial incidents have made headlines outside of the event. During the 1994 games, ice skater Nancy Kerrigan was attacked with a baton [\u2026]\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

But one day later, Mizuhara told ESPN that Ohtani actually had zero knowledge of his gambling debts and that Ohtani had not transferred money to the bookmaker\u2019s associate. \u201cObviously, this is all my fault, everything I\u2019ve done,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019m ready to face all the consequences.\u201d<\/p>\n

What Has Ohtani Said About the Case?<\/b><\/h3>\n

In a press conference with reporters on March 25, Ohtani publicly spoke out about the investigation. With help from translator and Dodgers employee Will Ireton<\/strong>, the pitcher expressed his disappointment and anger that someone close to him could pull off a serious violation. \u201cI\u2019m very saddened and shocked that someone who I\u2019ve trusted has done this,\u201d he told reporters via translation. \u201cIppei has been stealing money from my account and has told lies.\u201d<\/p>\n

How Is MLB Reacting to the Scandal?<\/b><\/p>\n

\n
\n