MLB has initiated a formal investigation into gambling allegations surrounding Ippei Mizuhara, the longtime interpreter of Shohei Ohtani. Mizuhara was recently fired by the Los Angeles Dodgers amidst conflicting reports about money exchanged for gambling debts.
The office of Commissioner Rob Manfred released a statement confirming that the league has started its formal investigation through its investigations department. The statement mentioned that Major League Baseball has been collecting information since the allegations came to light through news reports.
The scandal unfolded while Ohtani, the Dodgers, and Mizuhara were in Seoul for a series against the San Diego Padres at the beginning of the season. Initially, Ohtani’s lawyers claimed he was a victim of a significant theft, while Mizuhara and a spokesperson for Ohtani initially stated that Ohtani willingly covered gambling losses of at least $4.5 million for Mizuhara.
Ohtani is not accused of making bets himself. A source familiar with the situation revealed that Ohtani was not placed on leave when the investigation began due to the circumstances known at the time.
Mizuhara admitted to getting in over his head and seeking Ohtani’s assistance in paying off his debts. However, a spokesman for Ohtani later retracted this account, claiming that Ohtani was unaware of Mizuhara’s gambling activities.
The IRS is reportedly conducting a criminal investigation into Mizuhara, and Ohtani’s representatives have handed the matter over to law enforcement authorities. ESPN provided a detailed timeline of events, indicating the shifting narratives from Mizuhara, Ohtani’s spokesperson, and legal representatives.
According to ESPN, Ohtani’s crisis communication specialist noted that Mizuhara used his role as an interpreter to control communication to and from Ohtani, leading to inconsistent statements about the situation. Ohtani’s wire transfers to cover Mizuhara’s gambling debts were confirmed by a newly hired crisis communication manager on behalf of Ohtani.
Mizuhara disclosed to ESPN that he met the bookmaker Mathew Bowyer at a poker game in San Diego in 2021. David Fletcher, a Braves infielder and former teammate of Ohtani, was also present. Mizuhara explained that he started betting with Bowyer after this meeting and incurred significant losses.
Following the Dodgers’ victory in Seoul, Mizuhara and team owner Mark Walter addressed the issue internally before it became public. Ohtani only became aware of the situation at that moment and later discovered missing funds from his bank account, leading to Mizuhara’s dismissal.
Before his termination, Mizuhara admitted to lying in his initial interviews but denied using his role as an interpreter to misrepresent communications with Ohtani. He clarified that Ohtani was not involved in any gambling activities.
Ohtani’s stance against gambling was highlighted by Mizuhara, who mentioned that Ohtani disapproved of such behavior among teammates. Mizuhara emphasized that Ohtani never participated in gambling activities.
The Athletic’s Fabian Ardaya contributed to this report.
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