By Dan Hock
3 22 2024
“Major League Baseball has been gathering information since we learned about the allegations involving Shohei Ohtani and Ippei Mizuhara from the news media.
Earlier today, our Department of Investigations (DOI) began their formal process investigating the matter.”
THE GAMBLING SCANDAL AND LA DODGERS DISMISSAL INVOLVING Ippei Mizuhara
On March 20, 2024, the Dodgers fired Mizuhara. He was indebted to alleged illegal bookmaker Matthew Bowyer who was under investigation by the federal government in Southern California. It was reported that at least $4.5 million (approximately 680 million yen) had been transferred from Ohtani’s bank account to associates of the bookmaker. A spokesperson for Burke, Williams & Sorensen, the law firm representing Ohtani, stated that Ohtani was a victim of “massive theft” and that the matter had been referred to the authorities. After Ohtani lashed out at him on the field before the game, Mizuhara admitted to his gambling addiction and recognized his mistakes in a speech to Dodgers players in the clubhouse following a game against the Padres. Ohtani’s representatives had initially told the media that Ohtani made the payments to help Mizuhara, and Mizuhara said in an ESPN interview on March 19 that Ohtani transferred funds to Bowyer instead of Mizuhara, as he did not trust Mizuhara to not “gamble it away.”
Despite sports betting being legal in approximately 40 states in the US, it remains illegal in California, where Ohtani and Mizuhara are based. Mizuhara had accompanied Ohtani to the Dodgers’ spring camp in Arizona and had traveled with the team to Seoul, South Korea, for the Korean Series. He was also present at the opening game against the Padres, performing his duties as Ohtani’s interpreter.
COURTESY MLB COMMUNICATIONS AND WIKIPEDIA COMMONS
