The Los Angeles Dodgers fired the interpreter for superstar Shohei Ohtani following questions about at least $4.5 million in wire transfers sent from the baseball player’s bank account to a bookmaking operation, ESPN reported.
Ippei Mizuhara, the player’s friend and interpreter, incurred gambling debts to a Southern California bookmaking operation that is under federal investigation, ESPN reported, citing multiple sources.
Shohei Ohtani, left, with Ippei Mizuhara in Los Angeles in Dec. 2023.
Photographer: Frederic J. Brown/AFP/Getty Images
An Ohtani spokesman told ESPN the Dodgers player transferred the funds to cover Mizuhara’s gambling debt. Later, the spokesman disavowed that account and said Ohtani’s lawyers would issue a statement.
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