Shohei Ohtani’s attorneys have accused the Los Angeles Dodgers star’s interpreter of stealing ‘millions of dollars’ to place bets with a bookmaker being investigated by federal authorities.
According to the Los Angeles Times, Ohtani’s name appeared in an investigation of Mathew Bowyer of Orange County.
It led representatives of Ohtani, who signed a $700million contract with the Dodgers this offseason, to the player’s longtime interpreter Ippei Mizuhara.
Mizuhara has now been fired. He became extremely close to Ohtani and was one of his closest friends in the USA. Mizuhara was also ‘well liked’ by players at the Dodgers and Angels, Ohtani’s former team.
Shohei Ohtani’s attorneys have accused the Los Angeles Dodgers star’s interpreter of stealing
Ohtani and interpreter Ippei Mizuhara have become close friends since he moved to the USA
Mizuhara (left) pictured with Yamamoto Yoshinobu (center) and Ohtani earlier this week
Ippei Mizuhara not only became Shohei Ohtani’s closest friend since Ohtani came to the U.S., but was extremely well-liked by the Angels’ players and the Dodgers this spring.
He is now being accused by Ohtani’s attorneys of stealing millions of dollars from him, per the LA Times
West Hollywood law firm Berk Brettler told the LA Times: ‘In the course of responding to recent media inquiries, we discovered that Shohei has been the victim of a massive theft and we are turning the matter over to the authorities.’
Ohtani is currently in South Korean capital Seoul for the Dodgers’ season-opening games against the San Diego Padres.
Earlier on Wednesday, Ohtani’s RBI single capped a four-run eighth-inning rally in his Dodgers debut as they beat the Padres 5-2.
With new wife Mamiko Tanaka watching from the stands, Ohtani got his first hit with the Dodgers in a 112.3 mph single to right against Yu Darvish.
Ohtani’s RBI single capped a four-run eighth-inning rally as the Dodgers beat the Padres 5-2
Ohtani’s new wife Mamiko Tanaka was watching from the stands in Seoul on Wednesday
‘Just a good night overall for Shohei,’ Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said.
‘The bigger picture it’s significant because you’ve got such a generational talent that is on your ballclub in a big market in Los Angeles. There’s a lot more eyeballs on the Dodgers and on Major League Baseball.’
Ohtani went 2 for 5 with an RBI in his first game since leaving the Angels for a record $700m, 10-year contract with the Dodgers. A crowd of 15,952 was on hand to watch at the Gocheok Sky Dome.
A bomb threat did not seem to affect pregame preparations. Police found no explosives and said they acted on a tip that the threat was against Ohtani.
Padres pitchers walked nine and hit a batter, and the Dodgers had seven hits, none for extra bases.
More to follow.