The Dodgers fired Shohei Ohtani’s long-time interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara on Wednesday, amid allegations of Mizuhara engaging in a “massive theft” of Ohtani’s funds to place bets with a bookmaker who is the subject of a federal investigation.
Mizuhara was let go by the franchise on the same day The Los Angeles Times dropped a bombshell report detailing Mizuhara’s alleged ties with Mathew Boyer, an Orange County man under investigation for allegedly participating in a multi-million-dollar gambling scheme based in the region. More than a dozen people have been charged as part of the probe, including former Dodgers star Yasiel Puig.
Ohtani’s representatives inquired into Mizuhara’s actions after the Times discovered that Ohtani’s name had surfaced in Bowyer’s investigation.
“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,” West Hollywood law firm Berk Bettler announced in a statement.
Bowyer hasn’t been charged with a crime, according to his lawyer, Diane Bass. Bass told the Times that he had never been in contact with Ohtani.
Ohtani inked a record 10-year, $ 700 million contract with the Dodgers in the offseason.
This story will be updated.
