Shohei Ohtani returns from Seoul with wife Mamiko Tanaka as interpreter’s gambling drama swirls
[ad_1]
Shohei Ohtani is back in the U.S. following a wild week of bombshell gambling allegations against his close friend and now-former interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara.
The Dodgers’ two-way superstar was photographed departing a plane in Los Angeles on Thursday night with his wife, Mamiko Tanaka, after the team wrapped its two-game season-opening series against the Padres in Seoul, South Korea, according to new images obtained by The Post.
The couple — who revealed their union earlier this year — appeared to be joined by Will Ireton, the Dodgers’ manager of performance operations, who will serve as Ohtani’s temporary interpreter, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said.
Ireton has been interpreting for new Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto this season.
Mizuhara has been at the center of headlines this week after the Los Angeles Times first reported that Ohtani’s attorneys accused him of “massive theft.”
ESPN also reported that at least $4.5 million in wire transfers were sent from Ohtani’s bank account to a Southern California bookmaking operation that is under federal investigation.
A spokesperson for Ohtani told ESPN that the Dodgers star transferred funds to cover Mizuhara’s debt.
After making Mizuhara available to speak with ESPN, Ohtani’s spokesman “disavowed” his story and his lawyers released a statement.
“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,” Berk Brettler LLP said in a statement to The Post.
What to know about Shohei Ohtani’s accusations against his former interpreter
Lawyers representing Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani have accused his now-former interpreter and longtime friend Ippei Mizuhara of “massive theft” in a $4.5 million bombshell.
Mizuhara, who followed the two-time AL MVP from the Angels after he signed a 10-year, $700 million deal this offseason, reportedly accrued massive gambling debts he needed to pay off.
Mizuhara first told ESPN Ohtani offered to pay off the debt and later changed his story, insisting the Japanese star was unaware of the eight-nine wire transfers made from his accounts to an alleged illegal bookmaker.
Ohtani’s camp has “disavowed” Mizuhara’s initial story, per ESPN.
He was fired shortly after the Dodgers’ season opener against the Padres in Seoul, South Korea, and Ohtani has yet to publicly address the situation, though his camp is pushing for a law enforcement investigation amid an IRS probe.
“I never bet on baseball,” Mizuhara told ESPN. “That’s 100%. I knew that rule. … We have a meeting about that in spring training.”
All sides claim Ohtani has no involvement in any gambling.
Mizura told ESPN that he “never bet on baseball.”
Sports betting is illegal in the state of California and violates MLB rules.
Ohtani had worked with Mizuhara since he joined the Los Angeles Angels in December 2017.
The reigning American League MVP reached a 10-year, $700 million deal with the Dodgers in December 2023 and brought Mizuhara with him.
“The Dodgers are aware of media reports and are gathering information,” a team spokesperson said in a statement Wednesday. “The team can confirm that interpreter Ippei Mizuhara has been terminated. The team has no further comment at this time.”
An MLB official said Ohtani “is not currently facing discipline,” according to The Athletic.
The league is monitoring the situation and gathering information, CBS Sports reported, adding that MLB was not made aware of the investigation before it became public.
Mizuhara was with Ohtani in Seoul when the story broke on Wednesday during Game 1 of the Seoul Series, a 5-2 Dodgers win against the Padres.
The Padres split the series and won Game 2, 15-11, on Thursday.
Ohtani, who will turn 30 on July 5, won’t be available to pitch in 2024 as he recovers from surgery to repair his right UCL in October 2023.
[ad_2]
Source link
