Shohei Ohtani is the star of world baseball. The only player currently in MLB, the North American pro league, capable of hitting the ball and throwing at a high level. After spending six years at the Los Angeles Angels and collecting two MVP titles, the Japanese signed a fabulous contract last December with the LA Dodgers ($700 million over 10 years), the other franchise of the Californian city, the more legendary (seven championship titles against one for the Angels).
His start to the 2024 season has gone well, with three hits in two games played against the San Diego Padres. The meetings were relocated to South Korea and took place last week. The first matches in the United States will take place on Thursday.
$4.5 million used
But, while waiting for the official start of the season, the MLB is agitated by an extra-sporting affair which concerns Shohei Ohtani and is causing a stir in Japan, where the player is also a star, baseball being one of the most popular sports there. most popular: Ippei Mizuhara, who was Ohtani’s interpreter (the latter is not bilingual in English), is accused of having embezzled 4.5 million dollars (or 4.2 million euros) belonging to the Los Angeles gambler in order to settle gambling debts.
Employed by the Dodgers, Mizuhara was fired last week. The US tax authorities have opened an investigation. Usually stingy with public statements, Shohei Ohtani confided: “I am sad and shocked to see that someone I trusted acted in this way.” Ippei Mizuhara is also said to have created his own career from scratch.
An interpreter with a dubious CV
He mentioned a degree from the University of California and a stint with the Boston Red Sox, a legendary MLB franchise, as an interpreter for another Japanese player. But the faculty and the baseball franchise have denied these reports. Mizuhara is also accused of betting on pro baseball games, which is prohibited for anyone who is a member of one of MLB’s 30 franchises.
This happened to Pete Rose, a baseball legend in the 60s, 70s and 80s (he holds the record for strikes in a career) but suspended for life and forever deprived of a place in the Hall of Fame, for having bet on the team he coached, the Cincinnati Reds. This week, Rose joked on social media: “I wish I had an interpreter, I would have done fine.”
Ohtani an accomplice?
Ippei Mizuhara, however, denied betting on MLB matches, only on American football, basketball and soccer matches. He first explained that Shohei Ohtani was aware of his addiction to betting, which he did not like but that he had agreed to repay his debts. Mizuhara then reversed course, saying Ohtani knew nothing and didn’t give him any money. Which poses a problem.
Could Ippei Mizuhara have taken millions of dollars without Shohei Ohtani noticing? However, if the player was aware, he could be accused of complicity. Which would be an earthquake in the world of baseball and in Japan.
2024-03-27 10:47:22
#Shohei #Ohtani #MLB #star #stolen #interpreter
