The recent news of alleged bookmaker Mathew Bowyer and former Shohei Ohtani translator, Ippei Mizuhara, being criminally investigated by the Internal Revenue Service has caused quite a stir in the media. This investigation stems from discrepancies found in Mizuhara’s background claims, particularly in regards to money transfers from Ohtani’s accounts to Bowyer. Initially, Mizuhara stated that Ohtani was helping him cover gambling debts as an act of friendship, but this story quickly changed after news broke out. Ohtani’s lawyers now claim that $4.5 million was stolen from his accounts without his knowledge, labeling it as a “massive theft.”
Mizuhara, who worked as Ohtani’s interpreter for the Los Angeles Angels from 2018-23, has come under scrutiny for his alleged background claims. His biography states that he graduated from the University of California-Riverside in 2007, but there is no concrete evidence to support this. The university database does not show any record of a student named Ippei Mizuhara attending UC Riverside. Furthermore, claims that Mizuhara also worked as an interpreter for former pitcher Hideki Okajima have been dismissed. Despite news reports stating otherwise, the Red Sox have denied that Mizuhara was ever employed by the team or served as Okajima’s interpreter.
In light of these revelations, Major League Baseball (MLB) has announced that they are launching an investigation into the matter. However, as of now, no one has been formally charged with a crime. The conflicting stories presented by Mizuhara and the evolving nature of the situation have raised serious doubts about his credibility and integrity. The implications of these allegations could have far-reaching consequences not only for Mizuhara and Ohtani but also for the organizations they were associated with. It remains to be seen how this investigation will unfold and what repercussions it may have on those involved.