Shohei Ohtani’s Involvement In Interpreter’s Gambling Scandal Still Unclear

The Los Angeles Dodgers fired Ippei Mizuhara, interpreter for recently signed superstar Shohei Ohtani after he allegedly stole more than $4 million from Ohtani to pay off gambling debts. The specific details of this story are still profoundly unclear, with conflicting claims being made by the team, Mizuhara and Ohtani’s representatives since it first came to light Tuesday.

Mizuhara and Ohtani’s representatives presented the first version of the story to ESPN Tuesday evening, explaining that Ohtani transferred money to California bookie Matthew Bowyer to cover the interpreter’s debts. ESPN prepared to publish the following day when Ohtani’s lawyers issued a conflicting comment.

“In the course of responding to media inquiries, we discovered that Shohei has been the victim of massive theft, and we are turning the matter over to the authorities,” the statement read.

Ohtani’s lawyers’ statement that Mizuhara stole from Ohtani seems to imply that the new Dodgers star did not know about the payments, which conflicts with the story Mizuhara originally offered.

“Obviously, he [Ohtani] wasn’t happy about it and said he would help me out to make sure I never do this again,” Mizuhara told ESPN. “He decided to pay it off for me.”

The interpreter has since claimed to be under legal advisement to decline comment going forward. In his original interview with ESPN, he also stressed that Ohtani did not gamble any money himself, a detail which has remained consistent in the ever-changing story throughout the week.

“I want everyone to know Shohei had zero involvement in betting,” Mizuhara said. “I 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.”

In the wake of the bombshell report which led to Mizuhara’s termination Wednesday, publications and fans alike have speculated about the extent of Ohtani’s involvement in the scandal. ESPN managed to acquire evidence of two $500,000 payments to Bowyer credited to Ohtani late last year, but those payments are allegedly part of the $4.5 million sum the player either paid for Mizuhara or lost in an apparent case of theft.

If Ohtani is found to be involved in the act of gambling in any form, the consequences would be dire. Not only is gambling illegal in the state of California, but MLB is also infamous for punishing players harshly for the act. In 1989, Cincinnati Reds player and manager Pete Rose was banned from the league for life and has not been inducted into the Hall of Fame.