Ippei Mizuhara, who once served as the translator for Shohei Ohtani, the superstar of the Los Angeles Dodgers, has surrendered himself to federal authorities. This move comes a day after he was charged with bank fraud and accused of embezzling over $16 million from Ohtani, as per ESPN’s report.
Mizuhara has been a close associate of Ohtani, working with the star pitcher since 2017. He is currently in federal custody and is slated to appear in a Los Angeles court at 1 p.m. PT.
Note: Sports betting is illegal in the state of California, and Mizuhara is alleged to have used an illegal bookmaker for placing bets.
Mizuhara has been with Ohtani since the latter joined the Los Angeles Angels as a free agent in December 2017. When Ohtani secured a 10-year, $700 million deal with the Dodgers in December 2023, Mizuhara moved with him. However, in light of the recent events, Mizuhara has been dismissed from his position.
This scandal has undoubtedly cast a shadow over Ohtani’s stellar career. The reigning American League MVP has yet to comment on this situation.
Mizuhara’s surrender and the subsequent legal proceedings will be closely watched, as it could potentially set a precedent for similar cases in the future.
Despite these unsettling events, Ohtani’s focus remains unchanged. He continues to train and participate in games, demonstrating his commitment to his team and his fans.