‘Ain’t Passing the Smell Test!’ Sports Insiders Question Shocking Story of Shohei Ohtani’s Interpreter Getting Busted in $4.5M Gambling Scheme
Many in the sports world are left scratching their heads due to conflicting accounts of why Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani has been connected to illegal gambling.
On Wednesday, ESPN published a bombshell report about Ippei Mizuhara — Ohtani’s friend and interpreter — being fired by the Dodgers when he was accused of stealing millions from Ohtani. According to the report, Ohtani’s lawyers claimed Mizuhara stole at least $4.5 million from Ohtani’s account to settle his gambling debts.
The day before, however, Ippei claimed Ohtani paid the debts for him. Ohtani’s name is mentioned on multiple wire transfers to Southern California bookie Mathew Bowyer, but Mizuhara emphasized that he was solely at fault and Ohtani had nothing to do with the betting. Additionally, Mizuhara claimed he did not bet on baseball. It wasn’t until the next day that Ohtani’s legal team “disavowed” his account and later accused him of “massive theft.”
Now, fans and insiders alike are wondering what the truth is. Making matters even more confusing was the fact that Ohtani’s name was cleared almost immediately despite his name being on the transfers.
Finally reading ESPN’s report on Shohei Otani’s interpreter incurring a massive gambling debt in an illegal gambling ring. Um, is anybody really buying the story that this was a theft and not a direct payoff to an illegal gambling operation?
— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) March 21, 2024
I don’t know if Ohtani did anything wrong, and I hope he did not, but to say there is no investigation planned only 15 hours after two wildly conflicting stories about a multi-million dollar illegal gambling scandal drops is a hell of a thing. https://t.co/owcsv9Q8z0
— Craig Calcaterra (@craigcalcaterra) March 21, 2024
This Ohtani story ain’t passing the smell test jack!
— Damien Woody (@damienwoody) March 21, 2024
“The very least we can say is we are about to find a lot more about this story in the coming days because none of this smells right!”@mikegolicjr and @golic attempt to wrap their minds around Shohei Ohtani, his interpreter, the Dodgers, and the FBI pic.twitter.com/oIttPQVml1
— GoJo and Golic (@GoJoandGolic) March 21, 2024
Just watched Stephen A interview the Investigative reporter from ESPN on her story on Ohtani’s interpreter. Tough listen. I’m more confused than before.
— Lou Merloni (@LouMerloni) March 21, 2024
The Shohei Ohtani gambling story is suspicious.
His representatives have already changed their story once, and plenty of other questionable details exist.
But what will MLB do?
Ohtani is the league’s biggest star & they can’t afford to lose him.
Read: https://t.co/xAA9QtvsWQ pic.twitter.com/z9N4BtziOx
— Joe Pompliano (@JoePompliano) March 21, 2024
Watch above via ESPN
