©Reuters. FILE PHOTO: December 21, 2023; Inglewood, California, United States; Los Angeles Dodgers player Shohei Ohtani (right) and interpreter Ippei Mizuhara watch the game between the Los Angeles Rams and New Orleans Saints at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory credit: Kirby Lee-USA
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Ippei Mizuhara, who plays Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani, has been fired from the team amid allegations of “massive theft” from the player to pay off gambling debts, multiple media outlets said. press.
Ohtani’s lawyers told the LA Times that Mizuhara had used the player’s funds to pay off an alleged illegal bookmaker, which is reportedly under federal investigation.
ESPN reported that at least $4.5 million had been transferred from Ohtani’s account to a Southern California gambling operation.
“Responding to recent media inquiries, we have discovered that Shohei was the victim of a massive theft and we are turning the matter over to authorities,” law firm Berk Brettler LLP said in a statement to the LA Times.
Mizuhara, who is a longtime friend of Ohtani and had traveled to Seoul with the Dodgers for the MLB season-opening series, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
In an interview with ESPN on Tuesday, he initially said Ohtani had agreed to cover his gambling debts.
The next day, however, he told the sports television network that Ohtani was unaware of the gambling debts and had not wired money to the bookmaker’s partner.
“Obviously, it’s all my fault, everything I did,” Mizuhara told ESPN on Wednesday. “I am ready to face all the consequences.”
Mizuhara told ESPN his bets were on international soccer, the NBA, the NFL and college football, but never baseball.
The Dodgers confirmed to Reuters on Wednesday that Mizuhara had been fired.
“The Dodgers are aware of the media reports and are gathering information,” a team spokesperson said.
Mizuhara came to California with Ohtani when he joined the Los Angeles Angels in 2018. Mizuhara was hired by the Dodgers when two-time AL MVP Ohtani signed a record 10-year, $700 million contract with the team in low season.
Ohtani had two hits and an RBI in the Dodgers’ season-opening 5-2 win over the San Diego Padres in Seoul on Wednesday.