Shohei Ohtani is back within 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 along with his wife, Mamiko Tanaka, after the team wrapped its two-game season-opening series against the Padres in Seoul, South Korea, in line with recent images obtained by The Post.
The couple — who revealed their union earlier this yr — gave the impression to be joined by Will Ireton, the Dodgers’ manager of performance operations, who will function Ohtani’s temporary interpreter, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said.
Ireton has been interpreting for brand new Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto this season.
Mizuhara has been at the middle of headlines this week after the Los Angeles Times first reported that Ohtani’s attorneys accused him of “massive theft.”
ESPN also reported that a minimum of $4.5 million in wire transfers were sent from Ohtani’s checking account to a Southern California bookmaking operation that’s 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 talk with ESPN, Ohtani’s spokesman “disavowed” his story and his lawyers released an announcement.
“In the midst of responding to recent media inquiries, we discovered that Shohei has been the victim of a large theft, and we’re turning the matter over to the authorities,” Berk Brettler LLP said in an announcement to The Post.
What to learn 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 repay.
Mizuhara first told ESPN Ohtani offered to repay the debt and later modified his story, insisting the Japanese star was unaware of the eight-nine wire transfers constructed 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’ve got a gathering about that in spring training.”
All sides claim Ohtani has no involvement in any gambling.
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Mizura told ESPN that he “never bet on baseball.”
Sports betting is illegitimate within 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 take care of 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 an announcement Wednesday. “The team can confirm that interpreter Ippei Mizuhara has been terminated. The team has no further comment right now.”
An MLB official said Ohtani “just isn’t currently facing discipline,” in line with 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.
