What’s Next in the Shohei Ohtani Interpreter Saga? ESPN Insider Reveals New Information on Dodgers Star
The Los Angeles Dodgers fired Shohei Ohtani’s interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, after he was shocking accused of stealing millions of dollars of Ohtani’s money for what is an allegedly illegal sports gambling operation.
Ohtani is not currently facing any discipline from the Mizuhara situation. Still, the situation has left MLB in shock, especially after Ohtani and Mizuhara had been friends for years.
ESPN’s Jeff Passan went on the Pat McAfee Show and revealed additional details about Shohei Ohtani’s former interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, who was fired after reportedly using Ohtani’s money to place bets with an alleged illegal bookmaker who is under federal investigation.
After the Dodgers beat the San Diego Padres on Wednesday night in Seoul, Passan said:
“Dodgers players were sitting down. Front office people for the organization got up and said, ‘Hey, there’s going to be a story coming out about gambling. Ippei, would you like to say something?’ And he was just extremely apologetic. Then they left and went back to the hotel, and at some point there, it seems that is when the story changed.”
— Jeff Passan, via the Pat McAfee Show.
Passan also outlined the possible next steps in the saga.
“If charges are pressed in this situation, we are going to get a full public accounting of what actually happened. We’re going to know the extent of the money. We found $4.5 million in wire transfers. There could be more potentially. We don’t know. There are so many factors in this situation that we don’t know right now, that jumping to any conclusions I think is irresponsible, but that’s what the internet is for.”
— Jeff Passan, via the Pat McAfee Show.
For now, the Dodgers have released a statement only confirming that Mizuhara was fired. They are also maintaining that they will not let the situation distract from their performance on the field, even after losing 15-11 to the San Diego Padres on Thursday.
Next, the Dodgers return home and play in their freeway series of exhibition games against the Los Angeles Angels on Saturday-Monday. Then, the rest of the regular season begins, starting with their domestic home opener in one week against the St. Louis Cardinals.
Photo Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
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I think he’s trying to cover for Ohtani’s gambling. No illegal bookie would allow a client to built up $5 Million in debt unless they knew they were good for it. Last I checked the interpreter wasn’t worth $5 Million. But Ohtani is. IRS and Justice Department are going to eventually discover everything. They will offer the bookmaker a deal to cooperate.
You must be a Padres fan
Lol
Wow Mike G. Nice speculating and pulling BS out of your nether regions!…..Basically you don’t know squat. Maybe you could just shut up until you actually have a fact or two to work with!
This is a very ugly situation and no way to start the season. Think “Pete Rose” Have we not learned a lesson? Find the facts. Report the truth promptly and let us get on with the play.
I don’t deal in absolutes, I focus on probabilities. The greatest probability here is that you are right, the gambling was probably done on both sides. And it clearly had been ongoing during Ohtani’s time with the Angels. At any rate there are two conflicting stories, only one could be true (probably both are lies). This is going to hover over the Dodgers all season, perhaps for years. The Dodgers need to be proactive and cut their losses and suspend Ohtani pending further investigation. I’m guessing the season is shot anyway, they need to start over.
Ridiculous.
Uh yeah!…..So Michael Hurst, I’m thinkin you and Mike G above must be related!
How about we just disolve the Dodgers and layoff all the players!…… Obviously the season is over now!…. and the sky is falling! And I’m quite sure it’s actually all Dave Roberts fault!
Yeah you sure don’t deal in absolutes do you!….Or probablilities for that matter.But your sure not shy about flinging unfounded BS all over the place!