Disgraced Dodgers Interpreter Implicates Shohei Ohtani, Blames ‘Lifestyle’ For Illegal Gambling In Confession Release - Forbes

What the report says

Forbes reported that ESPN has released audio from a 2024 phone call in which Ippei Mizuhara, Shohei Ohtani’s former interpreter, gave his first account of the gambling scandal that later led to his conviction. In that initial version, Mizuhara told ESPN reporter Tisha Thompson that Ohtani knew about a $4.5 million debt to an illegal bookmaker and helped cover it through wire transfers. Forbes said an Ohtani-paid spokesperson was on the call and did not interrupt to dispute the claim at the time.

Mizuhara’s account soon changed. According to Forbes, as ESPN prepared to publish the details, Ohtani’s legal team said the Dodgers star had been the victim of a major theft and referred the matter to authorities. Mizuhara later admitted he had taken nearly $17 million from Ohtani’s bank account without the player’s knowledge. Federal investigators cleared Ohtani of wrongdoing, and Mizuhara is now serving a prison sentence and has been ordered to pay restitution.

The newly released audio, featured in ESPN’s podcast “The Betrayal Of Shohei Ohtani,” is significant because it preserves Mizuhara’s now-recanted explanation of how the scandal began. Forbes said Mizuhara described financial pressure, including an $85,000 annual salary during his Angels tenure and the challenge of maintaining a lifestyle tied to working with Ohtani. He also said he feared damaging his close relationship with the player.

The episode revisits a major controversy that erupted shortly after Ohtani joined the Los Angeles Dodgers, raising questions at the time about gambling, access to athlete finances and the trusted role interpreters can play around international sports stars.