The Los Angeles Dodgers of the US Major League Baseball have fired Shohei Ohtani’s translator, sports network ESPN reported. Suspicions arose after at least about $4.5 million (approximately 680 million yen) was transferred from Otani’s bank account to a gambling company.
Ippei Mizuhara, a friend and interpreter of Ohtani, owed money for gambling in southern California, where he is under investigation by federal authorities, ESPN reported, citing multiple sources.
Shohei Otani (left) and interpreter Ippei Mizuhara (Los Angeles, December 2023)
Photographer: Frederic J. Brown/AFP/Getty Images
A spokesperson for Ohtani told ESPN that the athlete transferred funds to cover Mizuhara’s gambling debts, but the spokesperson later denied that explanation and said that Ohtani’s attorney has announced that it will issue a statement.
Law firm Burke Brettler said: “In the course of responding to recent media inquiries, we have learned that Mr. Ohtani has been the victim of grand theft. We are referring this matter to the authorities.” I made a comment saying. This comment was also reported by ESPN.
The Dodgers did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Bloomberg News.
The Dodgers played their 2024 season opener in South Korea on the 20th. ESPN reported that Mizuhara was seen in the Dodgers’ dugout during the game. Citing a Dodgers spokesperson, Mizuhara said in a speech in the clubhouse after the game that he was responsible for everything that was being said and that he had a gambling addiction.
Last year, Ohtani signed a record-high total of $700 million with the Dodgers.10 year contracttied.The majority of that amount, $680 million, was from 1934 to 1943.deferred paymentbecomes.
Related article:
Original title:Dodgers Fire Ohtani’s Interpreter Amid Report of Gambling (1)(excerpt)
(Updates with final paragraph)