Los Angeles Dodgers’ Japanese hitter, Shohei Ohtani’s ex-interpreter has been sent to prison after a huge gambling scandal. Ippei Mizuhara, was found guilty and sentenced to five years after using millions from the baseball star’s wealth to make bets over three years.
According to Acting US Attorney Joseph McNally, Mizuhara used his language skills to take advantage of the newly famed baseball star. As Ohtani tried to learn the American baseball system, it seemed his interpreter had other plans.
Mizuhara had placed around 19, 000 bets from 2021 to 2024, stealing from Ohtani to recoup losses over gambling debts. He has also been ordered to pay back $18 million, and is expected to be deported out of the US.
McNally does acknowledge that Mizuhara has legal status in the country, as he moved to the US as a child. After leaving prison, he will have to face the immigration services. It’s unknown what kind of service he will face, as his sentence will conclude after Trump’s term in office.
The ex-interpreter stole nearly $17 million directly from Ohtani’s bank account to fund the crimes. Part of the restitution will go towards the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), while the rest is paid back to Ohtani.
Once released, Mizuhara will be under supervision for an additional three years. Mizuhara avoided a 30-year sentence, but will now spend four years and nine months in lock up.
Japanese baseball interpreter bet big for baseball cards
The gambling was apparently to fuel collecting $325, 000 worth of rare baseball cards. This isn’t surprising, as baseball is massive in Japan, becoming a staple of the country’s sports viewing.
According to Statista, attendance for professional baseball games has managed to grow back to 2019 levels before the pandemic wiped it out. In 2019, it’s estimated that 26.54 million people went to a game, while in 2024, 26.68 million attended.
Ohanti got his start in the Japanese leagues before making his way over to the LA Dodgers in 2023, and LA Angels in 2018. He originally debuted at 18 for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters.
Featured image: Wikicommons, Flickr
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