Shohei Ohtani's Interpreter Ippei Mizuhara Fired
Ippei Mizuhara well-known as the interpreter and confidant of Shohei Ohtani, has been dismissed by the Los Angeles Dodgers amidst serious accusations of engaging in illegal gambling activities and embezzling funds from the celebrated Japanese baseball figure.
The allegations, highlighted by the Los Angeles Times and ESPN, prompted his termination on Wednesday, coinciding with Ohtani's inaugural week with the Dodgers in Seoul, South Korea. Mizuhara, who has been a fixture in baseball circles and by Ohtani's side since 2017, faced scrutiny for purported connections to illicit betting operations.
Despite his claims of solely gambling on sports other than baseball, MLB's strict anti-betting regulations cover all team personnel, prohibiting wagers on any sports through unlawful channels.
The Dodgers have begun an inquiry following the media's spotlight, leading to Mizuhara's immediate firing. Moreover, revelations of a significant financial theft from Ohtani have emerged, with the athlete's legal team forwarding the case to authorities. Mizuhara, having accrued debts exceeding $1 million by the end of 2022 due to gambling losses, admitted his dire financial situation and the consequential strain on his relationship with Ohtani, significantly marking this event as baseball's most notable betting controversy since Pete Rose's 1989 ban.
