How the firing of Shohei Ohtani's interpreter came to unfold publicly starts with a tip ESPN received several months ago. Here's how it all went down.
The IRS confirmed Thursday that interpreter Ippei Mizuhara and Mathew Bowyer, the alleged illegal bookmaker, are under criminal investigation through the agency's Los Angeles Field Office.'s longtime interpreter and friend, Ippei Mizuhara, had been fired by the Dodgers.
Sources, including Mizuhara, have told ESPN that Ohtani does not gamble and that the funds were transferred to cover Mizuhara's losses. Multiple sources also said none of the betting was on baseball. The ESPN reporter, knowing the spokesman worked for Ohtani, wants to hear it from Mizuhara. The spokesman says he will work on arranging that.The Ohtani spokesman confirms to ESPN that the gambling debt amounted to at least $4.5 million, which ESPN had previously learned from other sources.Mizuhara speaks with an ESPN reporter by phone for 90 minutes from South Korea. The interview has been arranged - and was attended - by the Ohtani spokesman.
He describes his relationship with Ohtani, whom he first met in 2013, as "brothers," and says he spends more time with Ohtani than with his wife. Asked if Ohtani knew the person owed the money was a bookie, Mizuhara says his friend "didn't have any clue." Mizuhara declines to tell ESPN the full amount he lost gambling but confirms it's at least $4.5 million. He calls it "embarrassing."He says he felt uncomfortable and guilty for a few weeks after asking Ohtani to pay back his debts, but that Ohtani moved on. "It was hard to see him," Mizuhara says, "He's a great guy and pretty much he went on with his life like nothing ever happened.
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