Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani’s representatives have accused his interpreter of stealing millions of dollars to place bets with an illegal bookmaker under federal investigation. The interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, allegedly placed bets with Orange County resident Mathew Bowyer. Ohtani’s lawyers have turned the matter over to the authorities. The Dodgers have fired Mizuhara. Ohtani, currently in Seoul with the Dodgers, could not be reached for comment. Major League Baseball has not been contacted by prosecutors regarding this issue.
Bowyer’s attorney stated that he never had any contact with Ohtani. The investigation is part of a wider probe into illegal sports gambling in Orange County, involving former Dodgers player Yasiel Puig and professional gambler Wayne Nix, among others. Mizuhara has been Ohtani’s interpreter since he signed with the Angels in 2017 and later moved to the Dodgers.
Ohtani, a global sports figure, signed a record-breaking contract with the Dodgers in December. Bowyer has had financial trouble in the past, with past legal issues involving bounced checks and unpaid markers to casinos. Bowyer allegedly falsely claimed to have a connection to Ohtani to boast in his alleged gambling business. Mizuhara and Ohtani have been inseparable throughout Ohtani’s MLB career, with Mizuhara serving as a personal interpreter and close companion. The full extent of the situation is still under investigation.
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