Los Angeles Dodgers fired Ippei Mizuhara, interpreter for Otani Shohei. Otani’s lawyers announced that the two-way star was the victim of grand larceny and that Mizuhara is believed to have embezzled millions on gambling.
A Dodgers spokesperson stated that the team is aware of the media reports and is gathering information at this time.
The Los Angeles Times reported that the law firm investigated the behavior of Mizuhara, a long-time interpreter for Otani. After the newspaper obtained information that Otani’s name had surfaced in a federal investigation into an illegal bookmaker named Mathew Bowyer. The newspaper reported that the damage runs into millions of dollars and that Mizuhara used the money for gambling.
Meanwhile, US sports channel ESPN reported that at least 4.5 million dollars was transferred from Otani’s bank account to the bookmakers. Several sources, including Mizuhara himself, told ESPN that Otani didn’t gamble and that the money was used to cover Mizuhara’s debts.
MLB prohibits players, umpires, team and league officials, and employees from betting on baseball or illegally betting on other sports. Also while sports betting itself is legal in many US states, online betting is illegal in California.
According to the Los Angeles Times, Bowyer’s home in California was raided by federal agents last year. Bowyer’s lawyer said that he has never met, spoken, texted to or had any form of contact with Otani.
Mizuhara who was born in Japan and raised in Southern California, became Otani’s interpreter after he signed with Los Angeles Angels in 2017 and then followed him to Dodgers. Otani has accompanied Mizuhara to games and training sessions at the ballpark, and they have also spent time together away from the team’s facilities.
