In a normal time, MLB superstar Shohei Ohtani’s first game with the Los Angeles Dodgers would be the talk of the town. He brings an amazing amount of skill to the field. The Dodgers are even going to South Korea to start the 2024 season in a big way.
There is another interesting story about Ohtani that is competing for attention. It has to do with illegal gambling and claims that Ippei Mizuhara, Ohtani’s friend and longtime interpreter, took millions of dollars from the player’s bank accounts to pay for bad bets.
The Dodgers fired Mizuhara, a team official told NPR on Thursday. They wouldn’t say anything else, saying, “The Dodgers are aware of the media reports and are gathering information.” That person, along with everyone else in the story, has not been charged with a crime.
How Did The Claims Of Shohei Ohtani’s Gambling Come To Light?
The Los Angeles Times and ESPN were the first to report that the FBI was looking into a bookmaking business that was supposedly run by Mathew Bowyer, who lives in Orange County, California. When NPR called, the local U.S. attorney’s office wouldn’t say anything about the claims.
The Los Angeles Times says it heard that “Ohtani’s name had surfaced” in the investigation. This made them ask Shohei Ohtani’s representatives about his possible role. Tisha Thompson, an investigative reporter for ESPN, tells NPR that she was also trying to find out more. Her work led to an interview with Mizuhara earlier this week and records of big wire transfers.
