The sports activities world was rocked this week by information that Shohei Ohtani’s longtime interpreter and buddy, Ippei Mizuhara, had been fired by the Los Angeles Dodgers.
However Mizuhara’s termination was solely the most recent sharp flip in a zigzagging, 48-hour journey that performed out on two continents as ESPN reporters labored to reply questions on a minimum of $4.5 million in wire transfers despatched from Ohtani’s checking account to a bookmaking operation that’s below federal investigation. It is unclear if that twist would be the final.
Two days after the account from Ohtani’s handlers developed from superstar-bailing-out-his-friend to allegations of “huge theft,” questions stay, together with who, if anybody, is investigating the alleged theft. Ohtani’s representatives stated Thursday that they had formally submitted the allegation to regulation enforcement however didn’t say to which authorities.
A number of sources advised ESPN that neither the California Bureau of Investigation nor the FBI was working the case. Spokespersons with the Los Angeles Police Division and district lawyer’s places of work in Los Angeles and Orange counties all stated they weren’t investigating, they usually indicated it was almost certainly a federal matter. The U.S. Lawyer’s Workplace for the Central District of California declined to remark.
Sources, together with Mizuhara, have advised ESPN that Ohtani doesn’t gamble and that the funds have been transferred to cowl Mizuhara’s losses. A number of sources additionally stated not one of the betting was on baseball.
How this got here to unfold publicly begins with a tip ESPN obtained a number of months in the past that may be pursued by a number of reporters. Data was gathered over that timeframe, nevertheless it wasn’t till late Sunday that ESPN had sufficient affirmation to, for the primary time, ask inquiries to key figures, together with Main League Baseball officers, Ohtani representatives, federal regulation enforcement, the Dodgers and others.
7:30 p.m. ET Sunday (8:30 a.m. Monday in Seoul, South Korea): In accordance with a Main League Baseball supply, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred, whereas in South Korea making ready for the season-opening collection between the Dodgers and the San Diego Padres, learns one thing is occurring regarding Ohtani. A supply would later say MLB began looking for solutions from federal authorities in California early Monday however obtained no response.
3 p.m. ET Monday (4 a.m. Tuesday in Seoul): ESPN contacts Ohtani’s agent, Nez Balelo, to ask about info it has discovered, together with that Ohtani’s title gave the impression to be on two wire transfers totaling $1 million. The transfers had been despatched final September and October to the Southern California bookmaking operation of Mathew Bowyer. ESPN receives no quick response.
5:30 p.m. ET Monday (6:30 a.m. Tuesday in Seoul): A crisis-communications spokesman for Ohtani, who had simply been employed, responds to ESPN. Over the subsequent a number of hours, he and an ESPN reporter will speak at numerous occasions because the spokesman says he’s getting in control on info from the Ohtani camp.
8:30 p.m. ET Monday (9:30 a.m. Tuesday in Seoul): The spokesman for the primary time says Ohtani paid the money owed on behalf of Mizuhara. He says Balelo, the agent, went to Mizuhara, who “lastly got here clear to him and stated that was the reality,” and that Ohtani advised Balelo he had lined Mizuhara’s money owed in $500,000 increments. It isn’t clear if the spokesman is saying Ohtani communicated with Balelo by means of Mizuhara.
The spokesman quotes Ohtani as saying: “‘Yeah, I despatched a number of massive funds. That is the utmost quantity I might ship.'”
The ESPN reporter, understanding the spokesman labored for Ohtani, desires to listen to it from Mizuhara. The spokesman says he’ll work on arranging that.
9:05 p.m. ET Tuesday (10:05 a.m. Wednesday in Seoul): The Ohtani spokesman confirms to ESPN that the playing debt amounted to a minimum of $4.5 million, which ESPN had beforehand realized from different sources.
10:30 p.m. ET Tuesday (11:30 a.m. Wednesday in Seoul): Mizuhara speaks with an ESPN reporter by telephone for 90 minutes from South Korea. The interview has been organized — and is attended — by the Ohtani spokesman.
Mizuhara tells ESPN he met Bowyer at a poker sport in San Diego in 2021. Atlanta Braves infielder David Fletcher, who was pals with Ohtani after they each performed for the Los Angeles Angels, had beforehand advised ESPN that he was current on the poker sport, however he stated he didn’t introduce the bookie and interpreter. Fletcher and a supply with data of Bowyer’s operation advised ESPN that Bowyer gained admittance to the poker sport on the group resort by means of an acquaintance of Fletcher’s. Fletcher advised ESPN he had met Bowyer as soon as earlier than whereas taking part in golf, and that he had by no means positioned a guess with Bowyer’s group.
Within the ESPN interview, Mizuhara says he began betting with Bowyer on credit score shortly after they met, inserting wagers on a number of sports activities — however not baseball. He says he had beforehand guess on DraftKings and did not know Bowyer’s operation was unlawful. On the time, his wage with the Angels was about $85,000, he says, and by the tip of 2022 he had misplaced over $1 million and was borrowing cash from family and friends.
“I could not share this with Shohei. It was arduous for me to make my ends meet. I used to be going paycheck to paycheck,” Mizuhara says. “As a result of I form of needed to sustain together with his way of life. However on the similar time, I did not need to inform him this.”
He describes his relationship with Ohtani, whom he first met in 2013, as “brothers,” and says he spends extra time with Ohtani than together with his spouse.
Mizuhara’s debt ballooned to $4 million by early 2023, he tells ESPN, and that is when he says he went to Ohtani for assist. He says he feared shedding Ohtani’s belief, and he additionally feared for his security, that somebody would possibly come to his home.
“I defined my state of affairs,” he says. “And clearly he wasn’t blissful about it, however he stated he would assist me.”
Requested if Ohtani knew the particular person owed the cash was a bookie, Mizuhara says his buddy “did not have any clue.”
“I simply advised him I have to ship a wire to repay the debt,” Mizuhara says. “He did not ask if it was unlawful, did not query me about that.”
Mizuhara says that, after Ohtani agreed to pay the money owed, the 2 of them logged into Ohtani’s checking account on Ohtani’s laptop and despatched eight or 9 transactions, every at $500,000, over a number of months. They added “mortgage” to the outline subject within the transactions. Mizuhara estimates the ultimate cost was made in October.
Requested by ESPN if he thought he could be placing himself or Ohtani in danger by asking Ohtani to pay the money owed, Mizuhara says, “I do not assume both of us thought of that on the time in any respect.”
Mizuhara declines to inform ESPN the complete quantity he misplaced playing however confirms it is a minimum of $4.5 million. He calls it “embarrassing.”
“My spouse would not even learn about any of this till even proper now,” he says.
He says he felt uncomfortable and responsible for a number of weeks after asking Ohtani to pay again his money owed, however that Ohtani moved on. “It was arduous to see him,” Mizuhara says, “He is a fantastic man and just about he went on together with his life like nothing ever occurred.”
Requested if he supposed to pay again Ohtani, Mizuhara says he advised his buddy he would. He provides that Ohtani has by no means gambled and “thinks playing is horrible.”
“He sees that individuals, teammates could be playing on a regular basis, and he’ll be like, ‘Why are they doing this? Playing shouldn’t be good.’ He would make feedback like that. Folks would ask him to go to casinos on highway journeys, and he would by no means go. No, he isn’t into it.”
6:05 a.m. ET Wednesday (7:05 p.m. in Seoul): The Dodgers open the 2024 season towards the Padres, successful 5-2. Ohtani will get two hits and is seen within the dugout laughing with Mizuhara within the last minutes of the sport.
9 a.m. ET Wednesday (10 p.m. in Seoul): An MLB supply says officers are conscious of what Mizuhara advised ESPN the earlier night time — that Ohtani had lined his money owed. The supply says MLB nonetheless has not heard again from federal authorities.
10 a.m. ET Wednesday (11 p.m. in Seoul): After the sport, the Dodgers maintain a gathering within the clubhouse, the place group proprietor Mark Walter tells the gamers a unfavourable story is coming, in accordance with a group official later interviewed by ESPN. Mizuhara apologizes, in accordance with the official, and tells the group he has a playing dependancy. A Dodgers government, Andrew Friedman, stands up and says Ohtani had helped to cowl Mizuhara’s losses, the group official and others current stated.
On the best way again to the resort, Ohtani begins asking questions on what had been stated within the clubhouse, the Ohtani spokesman advised ESPN, and his representatives say that is when Ohtani advised them he did not acknowledge Mizuhara’s model of the occasions. In accordance with the Dodgers official and Ohtani’s spokesman, Ohtani’s representatives had continued to depend on Mizuhara to speak with Ohtani whereas they have been coping with the state of affairs, and Mizuhara didn’t inform Ohtani what was occurring.
In accordance with the Ohtani spokesman, Ohtani discovers for the primary time Wednesday that cash is lacking from his account.
11:32 a.m. ET Wednesday (12:32 a.m. Thursday in Seoul): Ohtani’s spokesman advises ESPN to not publish its story. “Ippei was mendacity,” he says. “Shohei did not know.” In a fast collection of telephone calls that observe, the spokesman emphasizes that every one communication between Ohtani and his agent had gone by means of Mizuhara.
1:15 p.m. ET Wednesday (2:15 a.m. Thursday in Seoul): Due to the seriousness of that allegation and rising inconsistencies within the accounts, ESPN calls for that Ohtani’s spokesman go on the file with the theft allegations and provides him a 1:45 p.m. deadline. The Ohtani spokesman says Mizuhara is despondent and wishes to clarify his state of affairs to his household, and that attorneys are making ready an announcement. The spokesman guarantees an announcement by 2 p.m.
2 p.m. ET Wednesday (3 a.m. Thursday in Seoul): Ohtani’s legal professionals at Berk Brettler LLP subject an announcement to ESPN: “In the middle of responding to latest media inquiries, we found that Shohei has been the sufferer of an enormous theft and we’re turning the matter over to the authorities.”
The Ohtani spokesman declines to reply additional questions, and the assertion doesn’t specify whom they imagine perpetrated a theft.
2:30 p.m. ET Wednesday (3:30 a.m. Thursday in Seoul): The Dodgers fireplace Mizuhara instantly after studying in regards to the alleged theft, in accordance with a group official.
3:55 p.m. ET Wednesday (4:55 a.m. Thursday in Seoul): ESPN reaches Mizuhara by telephone. He says he had lied in his earlier interview and walks again a lot of what he had stated. He tells ESPN Ohtani had no data of his playing actions, money owed or efforts to repay them.
Requested if he had been accused of theft or embezzlement, he says he has been advised to not remark, however he declines to say by whom.
“Clearly, that is all my fault, every little thing I’ve achieved,” he says. “I am able to face all the implications.”
When did Ohtani grow to be conscious of the state of affairs?
“They advised me I can not reply something,” he says.
Ohtani’s representatives? Are they representing you?
“No.”
Are you taking any type of cost to inform me these items?
“No.”
Have you ever made any form of settlement to say these items?
“No.”
You are doing this of your individual volition and free will?
“Sure.”
Did you guess on baseball?
“No.”
Did you misinform Shohei?
“Sure.”
ESPN asks if he has ever purposely misinformed Ohtani whereas deciphering the problems the reporter is asking about. Mizuhara says: “No, I’ve by no means achieved that.”
The ESPN reporter texts him with a last query: Did you are taking the cash from Shohei’s accounts with out his data?
There isn’t a response.
4:13 p.m. ET Wednesday (5:13 a.m. Thursday in Seoul): The Ohtani spokesman tells ESPN that what has really occurred in latest days is that Mizuhara has been capable of management info to Ohtani in his place because the interpreter, and that Ohtani hadn’t realized what was occurring till the postgame clubhouse assembly, when a brand new interpreter was introduced in.
“He did not know any of it, did not know there was some inquiry,” the spokesman says. “After the sport, that is when he discovered. … He did not know what the f— was occurring.”
Tisha Thompson is an investigative reporter for ESPN. Attain her at tisha.thompson@espn.com.
ESPN’s Paula Lavigne, T.J. Quinn and Elaine Teng contributed to this report.
The sports activities world was rocked this week by information that Shohei Ohtani’s longtime interpreter and buddy, Ippei Mizuhara, had been fired by the Los Angeles Dodgers.
However Mizuhara’s termination was solely the most recent sharp flip in a zigzagging, 48-hour journey that performed out on two continents as ESPN reporters labored to reply questions on a minimum of $4.5 million in wire transfers despatched from Ohtani’s checking account to a bookmaking operation that’s below federal investigation. It is unclear if that twist would be the final.
Two days after the account from Ohtani’s handlers developed from superstar-bailing-out-his-friend to allegations of “huge theft,” questions stay, together with who, if anybody, is investigating the alleged theft. Ohtani’s representatives stated Thursday that they had formally submitted the allegation to regulation enforcement however didn’t say to which authorities.
A number of sources advised ESPN that neither the California Bureau of Investigation nor the FBI was working the case. Spokespersons with the Los Angeles Police Division and district lawyer’s places of work in Los Angeles and Orange counties all stated they weren’t investigating, they usually indicated it was almost certainly a federal matter. The U.S. Lawyer’s Workplace for the Central District of California declined to remark.
Sources, together with Mizuhara, have advised ESPN that Ohtani doesn’t gamble and that the funds have been transferred to cowl Mizuhara’s losses. A number of sources additionally stated not one of the betting was on baseball.
How this got here to unfold publicly begins with a tip ESPN obtained a number of months in the past that may be pursued by a number of reporters. Data was gathered over that timeframe, nevertheless it wasn’t till late Sunday that ESPN had sufficient affirmation to, for the primary time, ask inquiries to key figures, together with Main League Baseball officers, Ohtani representatives, federal regulation enforcement, the Dodgers and others.
7:30 p.m. ET Sunday (8:30 a.m. Monday in Seoul, South Korea): In accordance with a Main League Baseball supply, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred, whereas in South Korea making ready for the season-opening collection between the Dodgers and the San Diego Padres, learns one thing is occurring regarding Ohtani. A supply would later say MLB began looking for solutions from federal authorities in California early Monday however obtained no response.
3 p.m. ET Monday (4 a.m. Tuesday in Seoul): ESPN contacts Ohtani’s agent, Nez Balelo, to ask about info it has discovered, together with that Ohtani’s title gave the impression to be on two wire transfers totaling $1 million. The transfers had been despatched final September and October to the Southern California bookmaking operation of Mathew Bowyer. ESPN receives no quick response.
5:30 p.m. ET Monday (6:30 a.m. Tuesday in Seoul): A crisis-communications spokesman for Ohtani, who had simply been employed, responds to ESPN. Over the subsequent a number of hours, he and an ESPN reporter will speak at numerous occasions because the spokesman says he’s getting in control on info from the Ohtani camp.
8:30 p.m. ET Monday (9:30 a.m. Tuesday in Seoul): The spokesman for the primary time says Ohtani paid the money owed on behalf of Mizuhara. He says Balelo, the agent, went to Mizuhara, who “lastly got here clear to him and stated that was the reality,” and that Ohtani advised Balelo he had lined Mizuhara’s money owed in $500,000 increments. It isn’t clear if the spokesman is saying Ohtani communicated with Balelo by means of Mizuhara.
The spokesman quotes Ohtani as saying: “‘Yeah, I despatched a number of massive funds. That is the utmost quantity I might ship.'”
The ESPN reporter, understanding the spokesman labored for Ohtani, desires to listen to it from Mizuhara. The spokesman says he’ll work on arranging that.
9:05 p.m. ET Tuesday (10:05 a.m. Wednesday in Seoul): The Ohtani spokesman confirms to ESPN that the playing debt amounted to a minimum of $4.5 million, which ESPN had beforehand realized from different sources.
10:30 p.m. ET Tuesday (11:30 a.m. Wednesday in Seoul): Mizuhara speaks with an ESPN reporter by telephone for 90 minutes from South Korea. The interview has been organized — and is attended — by the Ohtani spokesman.
Mizuhara tells ESPN he met Bowyer at a poker sport in San Diego in 2021. Atlanta Braves infielder David Fletcher, who was pals with Ohtani after they each performed for the Los Angeles Angels, had beforehand advised ESPN that he was current on the poker sport, however he stated he didn’t introduce the bookie and interpreter. Fletcher and a supply with data of Bowyer’s operation advised ESPN that Bowyer gained admittance to the poker sport on the group resort by means of an acquaintance of Fletcher’s. Fletcher advised ESPN he had met Bowyer as soon as earlier than whereas taking part in golf, and that he had by no means positioned a guess with Bowyer’s group.
Within the ESPN interview, Mizuhara says he began betting with Bowyer on credit score shortly after they met, inserting wagers on a number of sports activities — however not baseball. He says he had beforehand guess on DraftKings and did not know Bowyer’s operation was unlawful. On the time, his wage with the Angels was about $85,000, he says, and by the tip of 2022 he had misplaced over $1 million and was borrowing cash from family and friends.
“I could not share this with Shohei. It was arduous for me to make my ends meet. I used to be going paycheck to paycheck,” Mizuhara says. “As a result of I form of needed to sustain together with his way of life. However on the similar time, I did not need to inform him this.”
He describes his relationship with Ohtani, whom he first met in 2013, as “brothers,” and says he spends extra time with Ohtani than together with his spouse.
Mizuhara’s debt ballooned to $4 million by early 2023, he tells ESPN, and that is when he says he went to Ohtani for assist. He says he feared shedding Ohtani’s belief, and he additionally feared for his security, that somebody would possibly come to his home.
“I defined my state of affairs,” he says. “And clearly he wasn’t blissful about it, however he stated he would assist me.”
Requested if Ohtani knew the particular person owed the cash was a bookie, Mizuhara says his buddy “did not have any clue.”
“I simply advised him I have to ship a wire to repay the debt,” Mizuhara says. “He did not ask if it was unlawful, did not query me about that.”
Mizuhara says that, after Ohtani agreed to pay the money owed, the 2 of them logged into Ohtani’s checking account on Ohtani’s laptop and despatched eight or 9 transactions, every at $500,000, over a number of months. They added “mortgage” to the outline subject within the transactions. Mizuhara estimates the ultimate cost was made in October.
Requested by ESPN if he thought he could be placing himself or Ohtani in danger by asking Ohtani to pay the money owed, Mizuhara says, “I do not assume both of us thought of that on the time in any respect.”
Mizuhara declines to inform ESPN the complete quantity he misplaced playing however confirms it is a minimum of $4.5 million. He calls it “embarrassing.”
“My spouse would not even learn about any of this till even proper now,” he says.
He says he felt uncomfortable and responsible for a number of weeks after asking Ohtani to pay again his money owed, however that Ohtani moved on. “It was arduous to see him,” Mizuhara says, “He is a fantastic man and just about he went on together with his life like nothing ever occurred.”
Requested if he supposed to pay again Ohtani, Mizuhara says he advised his buddy he would. He provides that Ohtani has by no means gambled and “thinks playing is horrible.”
“He sees that individuals, teammates could be playing on a regular basis, and he’ll be like, ‘Why are they doing this? Playing shouldn’t be good.’ He would make feedback like that. Folks would ask him to go to casinos on highway journeys, and he would by no means go. No, he isn’t into it.”
6:05 a.m. ET Wednesday (7:05 p.m. in Seoul): The Dodgers open the 2024 season towards the Padres, successful 5-2. Ohtani will get two hits and is seen within the dugout laughing with Mizuhara within the last minutes of the sport.
9 a.m. ET Wednesday (10 p.m. in Seoul): An MLB supply says officers are conscious of what Mizuhara advised ESPN the earlier night time — that Ohtani had lined his money owed. The supply says MLB nonetheless has not heard again from federal authorities.
10 a.m. ET Wednesday (11 p.m. in Seoul): After the sport, the Dodgers maintain a gathering within the clubhouse, the place group proprietor Mark Walter tells the gamers a unfavourable story is coming, in accordance with a group official later interviewed by ESPN. Mizuhara apologizes, in accordance with the official, and tells the group he has a playing dependancy. A Dodgers government, Andrew Friedman, stands up and says Ohtani had helped to cowl Mizuhara’s losses, the group official and others current stated.
On the best way again to the resort, Ohtani begins asking questions on what had been stated within the clubhouse, the Ohtani spokesman advised ESPN, and his representatives say that is when Ohtani advised them he did not acknowledge Mizuhara’s model of the occasions. In accordance with the Dodgers official and Ohtani’s spokesman, Ohtani’s representatives had continued to depend on Mizuhara to speak with Ohtani whereas they have been coping with the state of affairs, and Mizuhara didn’t inform Ohtani what was occurring.
In accordance with the Ohtani spokesman, Ohtani discovers for the primary time Wednesday that cash is lacking from his account.
11:32 a.m. ET Wednesday (12:32 a.m. Thursday in Seoul): Ohtani’s spokesman advises ESPN to not publish its story. “Ippei was mendacity,” he says. “Shohei did not know.” In a fast collection of telephone calls that observe, the spokesman emphasizes that every one communication between Ohtani and his agent had gone by means of Mizuhara.
1:15 p.m. ET Wednesday (2:15 a.m. Thursday in Seoul): Due to the seriousness of that allegation and rising inconsistencies within the accounts, ESPN calls for that Ohtani’s spokesman go on the file with the theft allegations and provides him a 1:45 p.m. deadline. The Ohtani spokesman says Mizuhara is despondent and wishes to clarify his state of affairs to his household, and that attorneys are making ready an announcement. The spokesman guarantees an announcement by 2 p.m.
2 p.m. ET Wednesday (3 a.m. Thursday in Seoul): Ohtani’s legal professionals at Berk Brettler LLP subject an announcement to ESPN: “In the middle of responding to latest media inquiries, we found that Shohei has been the sufferer of an enormous theft and we’re turning the matter over to the authorities.”
The Ohtani spokesman declines to reply additional questions, and the assertion doesn’t specify whom they imagine perpetrated a theft.
2:30 p.m. ET Wednesday (3:30 a.m. Thursday in Seoul): The Dodgers fireplace Mizuhara instantly after studying in regards to the alleged theft, in accordance with a group official.
3:55 p.m. ET Wednesday (4:55 a.m. Thursday in Seoul): ESPN reaches Mizuhara by telephone. He says he had lied in his earlier interview and walks again a lot of what he had stated. He tells ESPN Ohtani had no data of his playing actions, money owed or efforts to repay them.
Requested if he had been accused of theft or embezzlement, he says he has been advised to not remark, however he declines to say by whom.
“Clearly, that is all my fault, every little thing I’ve achieved,” he says. “I am able to face all the implications.”
When did Ohtani grow to be conscious of the state of affairs?
“They advised me I can not reply something,” he says.
Ohtani’s representatives? Are they representing you?
“No.”
Are you taking any type of cost to inform me these items?
“No.”
Have you ever made any form of settlement to say these items?
“No.”
You are doing this of your individual volition and free will?
“Sure.”
Did you guess on baseball?
“No.”
Did you misinform Shohei?
“Sure.”
ESPN asks if he has ever purposely misinformed Ohtani whereas deciphering the problems the reporter is asking about. Mizuhara says: “No, I’ve by no means achieved that.”
The ESPN reporter texts him with a last query: Did you are taking the cash from Shohei’s accounts with out his data?
There isn’t a response.
4:13 p.m. ET Wednesday (5:13 a.m. Thursday in Seoul): The Ohtani spokesman tells ESPN that what has really occurred in latest days is that Mizuhara has been capable of management info to Ohtani in his place because the interpreter, and that Ohtani hadn’t realized what was occurring till the postgame clubhouse assembly, when a brand new interpreter was introduced in.
“He did not know any of it, did not know there was some inquiry,” the spokesman says. “After the sport, that is when he discovered. … He did not know what the f— was occurring.”
Tisha Thompson is an investigative reporter for ESPN. Attain her at tisha.thompson@espn.com.
ESPN’s Paula Lavigne, T.J. Quinn and Elaine Teng contributed to this report.
The sports activities world was rocked this week by information that Shohei Ohtani’s longtime interpreter and buddy, Ippei Mizuhara, had been fired by the Los Angeles Dodgers.
However Mizuhara’s termination was solely the most recent sharp flip in a zigzagging, 48-hour journey that performed out on two continents as ESPN reporters labored to reply questions on a minimum of $4.5 million in wire transfers despatched from Ohtani’s checking account to a bookmaking operation that’s below federal investigation. It is unclear if that twist would be the final.
Two days after the account from Ohtani’s handlers developed from superstar-bailing-out-his-friend to allegations of “huge theft,” questions stay, together with who, if anybody, is investigating the alleged theft. Ohtani’s representatives stated Thursday that they had formally submitted the allegation to regulation enforcement however didn’t say to which authorities.
A number of sources advised ESPN that neither the California Bureau of Investigation nor the FBI was working the case. Spokespersons with the Los Angeles Police Division and district lawyer’s places of work in Los Angeles and Orange counties all stated they weren’t investigating, they usually indicated it was almost certainly a federal matter. The U.S. Lawyer’s Workplace for the Central District of California declined to remark.
Sources, together with Mizuhara, have advised ESPN that Ohtani doesn’t gamble and that the funds have been transferred to cowl Mizuhara’s losses. A number of sources additionally stated not one of the betting was on baseball.
How this got here to unfold publicly begins with a tip ESPN obtained a number of months in the past that may be pursued by a number of reporters. Data was gathered over that timeframe, nevertheless it wasn’t till late Sunday that ESPN had sufficient affirmation to, for the primary time, ask inquiries to key figures, together with Main League Baseball officers, Ohtani representatives, federal regulation enforcement, the Dodgers and others.
7:30 p.m. ET Sunday (8:30 a.m. Monday in Seoul, South Korea): In accordance with a Main League Baseball supply, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred, whereas in South Korea making ready for the season-opening collection between the Dodgers and the San Diego Padres, learns one thing is occurring regarding Ohtani. A supply would later say MLB began looking for solutions from federal authorities in California early Monday however obtained no response.
3 p.m. ET Monday (4 a.m. Tuesday in Seoul): ESPN contacts Ohtani’s agent, Nez Balelo, to ask about info it has discovered, together with that Ohtani’s title gave the impression to be on two wire transfers totaling $1 million. The transfers had been despatched final September and October to the Southern California bookmaking operation of Mathew Bowyer. ESPN receives no quick response.
5:30 p.m. ET Monday (6:30 a.m. Tuesday in Seoul): A crisis-communications spokesman for Ohtani, who had simply been employed, responds to ESPN. Over the subsequent a number of hours, he and an ESPN reporter will speak at numerous occasions because the spokesman says he’s getting in control on info from the Ohtani camp.
8:30 p.m. ET Monday (9:30 a.m. Tuesday in Seoul): The spokesman for the primary time says Ohtani paid the money owed on behalf of Mizuhara. He says Balelo, the agent, went to Mizuhara, who “lastly got here clear to him and stated that was the reality,” and that Ohtani advised Balelo he had lined Mizuhara’s money owed in $500,000 increments. It isn’t clear if the spokesman is saying Ohtani communicated with Balelo by means of Mizuhara.
The spokesman quotes Ohtani as saying: “‘Yeah, I despatched a number of massive funds. That is the utmost quantity I might ship.'”
The ESPN reporter, understanding the spokesman labored for Ohtani, desires to listen to it from Mizuhara. The spokesman says he’ll work on arranging that.
9:05 p.m. ET Tuesday (10:05 a.m. Wednesday in Seoul): The Ohtani spokesman confirms to ESPN that the playing debt amounted to a minimum of $4.5 million, which ESPN had beforehand realized from different sources.
10:30 p.m. ET Tuesday (11:30 a.m. Wednesday in Seoul): Mizuhara speaks with an ESPN reporter by telephone for 90 minutes from South Korea. The interview has been organized — and is attended — by the Ohtani spokesman.
Mizuhara tells ESPN he met Bowyer at a poker sport in San Diego in 2021. Atlanta Braves infielder David Fletcher, who was pals with Ohtani after they each performed for the Los Angeles Angels, had beforehand advised ESPN that he was current on the poker sport, however he stated he didn’t introduce the bookie and interpreter. Fletcher and a supply with data of Bowyer’s operation advised ESPN that Bowyer gained admittance to the poker sport on the group resort by means of an acquaintance of Fletcher’s. Fletcher advised ESPN he had met Bowyer as soon as earlier than whereas taking part in golf, and that he had by no means positioned a guess with Bowyer’s group.
Within the ESPN interview, Mizuhara says he began betting with Bowyer on credit score shortly after they met, inserting wagers on a number of sports activities — however not baseball. He says he had beforehand guess on DraftKings and did not know Bowyer’s operation was unlawful. On the time, his wage with the Angels was about $85,000, he says, and by the tip of 2022 he had misplaced over $1 million and was borrowing cash from family and friends.
“I could not share this with Shohei. It was arduous for me to make my ends meet. I used to be going paycheck to paycheck,” Mizuhara says. “As a result of I form of needed to sustain together with his way of life. However on the similar time, I did not need to inform him this.”
He describes his relationship with Ohtani, whom he first met in 2013, as “brothers,” and says he spends extra time with Ohtani than together with his spouse.
Mizuhara’s debt ballooned to $4 million by early 2023, he tells ESPN, and that is when he says he went to Ohtani for assist. He says he feared shedding Ohtani’s belief, and he additionally feared for his security, that somebody would possibly come to his home.
“I defined my state of affairs,” he says. “And clearly he wasn’t blissful about it, however he stated he would assist me.”
Requested if Ohtani knew the particular person owed the cash was a bookie, Mizuhara says his buddy “did not have any clue.”
“I simply advised him I have to ship a wire to repay the debt,” Mizuhara says. “He did not ask if it was unlawful, did not query me about that.”
Mizuhara says that, after Ohtani agreed to pay the money owed, the 2 of them logged into Ohtani’s checking account on Ohtani’s laptop and despatched eight or 9 transactions, every at $500,000, over a number of months. They added “mortgage” to the outline subject within the transactions. Mizuhara estimates the ultimate cost was made in October.
Requested by ESPN if he thought he could be placing himself or Ohtani in danger by asking Ohtani to pay the money owed, Mizuhara says, “I do not assume both of us thought of that on the time in any respect.”
Mizuhara declines to inform ESPN the complete quantity he misplaced playing however confirms it is a minimum of $4.5 million. He calls it “embarrassing.”
“My spouse would not even learn about any of this till even proper now,” he says.
He says he felt uncomfortable and responsible for a number of weeks after asking Ohtani to pay again his money owed, however that Ohtani moved on. “It was arduous to see him,” Mizuhara says, “He is a fantastic man and just about he went on together with his life like nothing ever occurred.”
Requested if he supposed to pay again Ohtani, Mizuhara says he advised his buddy he would. He provides that Ohtani has by no means gambled and “thinks playing is horrible.”
“He sees that individuals, teammates could be playing on a regular basis, and he’ll be like, ‘Why are they doing this? Playing shouldn’t be good.’ He would make feedback like that. Folks would ask him to go to casinos on highway journeys, and he would by no means go. No, he isn’t into it.”
6:05 a.m. ET Wednesday (7:05 p.m. in Seoul): The Dodgers open the 2024 season towards the Padres, successful 5-2. Ohtani will get two hits and is seen within the dugout laughing with Mizuhara within the last minutes of the sport.
9 a.m. ET Wednesday (10 p.m. in Seoul): An MLB supply says officers are conscious of what Mizuhara advised ESPN the earlier night time — that Ohtani had lined his money owed. The supply says MLB nonetheless has not heard again from federal authorities.
10 a.m. ET Wednesday (11 p.m. in Seoul): After the sport, the Dodgers maintain a gathering within the clubhouse, the place group proprietor Mark Walter tells the gamers a unfavourable story is coming, in accordance with a group official later interviewed by ESPN. Mizuhara apologizes, in accordance with the official, and tells the group he has a playing dependancy. A Dodgers government, Andrew Friedman, stands up and says Ohtani had helped to cowl Mizuhara’s losses, the group official and others current stated.
On the best way again to the resort, Ohtani begins asking questions on what had been stated within the clubhouse, the Ohtani spokesman advised ESPN, and his representatives say that is when Ohtani advised them he did not acknowledge Mizuhara’s model of the occasions. In accordance with the Dodgers official and Ohtani’s spokesman, Ohtani’s representatives had continued to depend on Mizuhara to speak with Ohtani whereas they have been coping with the state of affairs, and Mizuhara didn’t inform Ohtani what was occurring.
In accordance with the Ohtani spokesman, Ohtani discovers for the primary time Wednesday that cash is lacking from his account.
11:32 a.m. ET Wednesday (12:32 a.m. Thursday in Seoul): Ohtani’s spokesman advises ESPN to not publish its story. “Ippei was mendacity,” he says. “Shohei did not know.” In a fast collection of telephone calls that observe, the spokesman emphasizes that every one communication between Ohtani and his agent had gone by means of Mizuhara.
1:15 p.m. ET Wednesday (2:15 a.m. Thursday in Seoul): Due to the seriousness of that allegation and rising inconsistencies within the accounts, ESPN calls for that Ohtani’s spokesman go on the file with the theft allegations and provides him a 1:45 p.m. deadline. The Ohtani spokesman says Mizuhara is despondent and wishes to clarify his state of affairs to his household, and that attorneys are making ready an announcement. The spokesman guarantees an announcement by 2 p.m.
2 p.m. ET Wednesday (3 a.m. Thursday in Seoul): Ohtani’s legal professionals at Berk Brettler LLP subject an announcement to ESPN: “In the middle of responding to latest media inquiries, we found that Shohei has been the sufferer of an enormous theft and we’re turning the matter over to the authorities.”
The Ohtani spokesman declines to reply additional questions, and the assertion doesn’t specify whom they imagine perpetrated a theft.
2:30 p.m. ET Wednesday (3:30 a.m. Thursday in Seoul): The Dodgers fireplace Mizuhara instantly after studying in regards to the alleged theft, in accordance with a group official.
3:55 p.m. ET Wednesday (4:55 a.m. Thursday in Seoul): ESPN reaches Mizuhara by telephone. He says he had lied in his earlier interview and walks again a lot of what he had stated. He tells ESPN Ohtani had no data of his playing actions, money owed or efforts to repay them.
Requested if he had been accused of theft or embezzlement, he says he has been advised to not remark, however he declines to say by whom.
“Clearly, that is all my fault, every little thing I’ve achieved,” he says. “I am able to face all the implications.”
When did Ohtani grow to be conscious of the state of affairs?
“They advised me I can not reply something,” he says.
Ohtani’s representatives? Are they representing you?
“No.”
Are you taking any type of cost to inform me these items?
“No.”
Have you ever made any form of settlement to say these items?
“No.”
You are doing this of your individual volition and free will?
“Sure.”
Did you guess on baseball?
“No.”
Did you misinform Shohei?
“Sure.”
ESPN asks if he has ever purposely misinformed Ohtani whereas deciphering the problems the reporter is asking about. Mizuhara says: “No, I’ve by no means achieved that.”
The ESPN reporter texts him with a last query: Did you are taking the cash from Shohei’s accounts with out his data?
There isn’t a response.
4:13 p.m. ET Wednesday (5:13 a.m. Thursday in Seoul): The Ohtani spokesman tells ESPN that what has really occurred in latest days is that Mizuhara has been capable of management info to Ohtani in his place because the interpreter, and that Ohtani hadn’t realized what was occurring till the postgame clubhouse assembly, when a brand new interpreter was introduced in.
“He did not know any of it, did not know there was some inquiry,” the spokesman says. “After the sport, that is when he discovered. … He did not know what the f— was occurring.”
Tisha Thompson is an investigative reporter for ESPN. Attain her at tisha.thompson@espn.com.
ESPN’s Paula Lavigne, T.J. Quinn and Elaine Teng contributed to this report.
The sports activities world was rocked this week by information that Shohei Ohtani’s longtime interpreter and buddy, Ippei Mizuhara, had been fired by the Los Angeles Dodgers.
However Mizuhara’s termination was solely the most recent sharp flip in a zigzagging, 48-hour journey that performed out on two continents as ESPN reporters labored to reply questions on a minimum of $4.5 million in wire transfers despatched from Ohtani’s checking account to a bookmaking operation that’s below federal investigation. It is unclear if that twist would be the final.
Two days after the account from Ohtani’s handlers developed from superstar-bailing-out-his-friend to allegations of “huge theft,” questions stay, together with who, if anybody, is investigating the alleged theft. Ohtani’s representatives stated Thursday that they had formally submitted the allegation to regulation enforcement however didn’t say to which authorities.
A number of sources advised ESPN that neither the California Bureau of Investigation nor the FBI was working the case. Spokespersons with the Los Angeles Police Division and district lawyer’s places of work in Los Angeles and Orange counties all stated they weren’t investigating, they usually indicated it was almost certainly a federal matter. The U.S. Lawyer’s Workplace for the Central District of California declined to remark.
Sources, together with Mizuhara, have advised ESPN that Ohtani doesn’t gamble and that the funds have been transferred to cowl Mizuhara’s losses. A number of sources additionally stated not one of the betting was on baseball.
How this got here to unfold publicly begins with a tip ESPN obtained a number of months in the past that may be pursued by a number of reporters. Data was gathered over that timeframe, nevertheless it wasn’t till late Sunday that ESPN had sufficient affirmation to, for the primary time, ask inquiries to key figures, together with Main League Baseball officers, Ohtani representatives, federal regulation enforcement, the Dodgers and others.
7:30 p.m. ET Sunday (8:30 a.m. Monday in Seoul, South Korea): In accordance with a Main League Baseball supply, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred, whereas in South Korea making ready for the season-opening collection between the Dodgers and the San Diego Padres, learns one thing is occurring regarding Ohtani. A supply would later say MLB began looking for solutions from federal authorities in California early Monday however obtained no response.
3 p.m. ET Monday (4 a.m. Tuesday in Seoul): ESPN contacts Ohtani’s agent, Nez Balelo, to ask about info it has discovered, together with that Ohtani’s title gave the impression to be on two wire transfers totaling $1 million. The transfers had been despatched final September and October to the Southern California bookmaking operation of Mathew Bowyer. ESPN receives no quick response.
5:30 p.m. ET Monday (6:30 a.m. Tuesday in Seoul): A crisis-communications spokesman for Ohtani, who had simply been employed, responds to ESPN. Over the subsequent a number of hours, he and an ESPN reporter will speak at numerous occasions because the spokesman says he’s getting in control on info from the Ohtani camp.
8:30 p.m. ET Monday (9:30 a.m. Tuesday in Seoul): The spokesman for the primary time says Ohtani paid the money owed on behalf of Mizuhara. He says Balelo, the agent, went to Mizuhara, who “lastly got here clear to him and stated that was the reality,” and that Ohtani advised Balelo he had lined Mizuhara’s money owed in $500,000 increments. It isn’t clear if the spokesman is saying Ohtani communicated with Balelo by means of Mizuhara.
The spokesman quotes Ohtani as saying: “‘Yeah, I despatched a number of massive funds. That is the utmost quantity I might ship.'”
The ESPN reporter, understanding the spokesman labored for Ohtani, desires to listen to it from Mizuhara. The spokesman says he’ll work on arranging that.
9:05 p.m. ET Tuesday (10:05 a.m. Wednesday in Seoul): The Ohtani spokesman confirms to ESPN that the playing debt amounted to a minimum of $4.5 million, which ESPN had beforehand realized from different sources.
10:30 p.m. ET Tuesday (11:30 a.m. Wednesday in Seoul): Mizuhara speaks with an ESPN reporter by telephone for 90 minutes from South Korea. The interview has been organized — and is attended — by the Ohtani spokesman.
Mizuhara tells ESPN he met Bowyer at a poker sport in San Diego in 2021. Atlanta Braves infielder David Fletcher, who was pals with Ohtani after they each performed for the Los Angeles Angels, had beforehand advised ESPN that he was current on the poker sport, however he stated he didn’t introduce the bookie and interpreter. Fletcher and a supply with data of Bowyer’s operation advised ESPN that Bowyer gained admittance to the poker sport on the group resort by means of an acquaintance of Fletcher’s. Fletcher advised ESPN he had met Bowyer as soon as earlier than whereas taking part in golf, and that he had by no means positioned a guess with Bowyer’s group.
Within the ESPN interview, Mizuhara says he began betting with Bowyer on credit score shortly after they met, inserting wagers on a number of sports activities — however not baseball. He says he had beforehand guess on DraftKings and did not know Bowyer’s operation was unlawful. On the time, his wage with the Angels was about $85,000, he says, and by the tip of 2022 he had misplaced over $1 million and was borrowing cash from family and friends.
“I could not share this with Shohei. It was arduous for me to make my ends meet. I used to be going paycheck to paycheck,” Mizuhara says. “As a result of I form of needed to sustain together with his way of life. However on the similar time, I did not need to inform him this.”
He describes his relationship with Ohtani, whom he first met in 2013, as “brothers,” and says he spends extra time with Ohtani than together with his spouse.
Mizuhara’s debt ballooned to $4 million by early 2023, he tells ESPN, and that is when he says he went to Ohtani for assist. He says he feared shedding Ohtani’s belief, and he additionally feared for his security, that somebody would possibly come to his home.
“I defined my state of affairs,” he says. “And clearly he wasn’t blissful about it, however he stated he would assist me.”
Requested if Ohtani knew the particular person owed the cash was a bookie, Mizuhara says his buddy “did not have any clue.”
“I simply advised him I have to ship a wire to repay the debt,” Mizuhara says. “He did not ask if it was unlawful, did not query me about that.”
Mizuhara says that, after Ohtani agreed to pay the money owed, the 2 of them logged into Ohtani’s checking account on Ohtani’s laptop and despatched eight or 9 transactions, every at $500,000, over a number of months. They added “mortgage” to the outline subject within the transactions. Mizuhara estimates the ultimate cost was made in October.
Requested by ESPN if he thought he could be placing himself or Ohtani in danger by asking Ohtani to pay the money owed, Mizuhara says, “I do not assume both of us thought of that on the time in any respect.”
Mizuhara declines to inform ESPN the complete quantity he misplaced playing however confirms it is a minimum of $4.5 million. He calls it “embarrassing.”
“My spouse would not even learn about any of this till even proper now,” he says.
He says he felt uncomfortable and responsible for a number of weeks after asking Ohtani to pay again his money owed, however that Ohtani moved on. “It was arduous to see him,” Mizuhara says, “He is a fantastic man and just about he went on together with his life like nothing ever occurred.”
Requested if he supposed to pay again Ohtani, Mizuhara says he advised his buddy he would. He provides that Ohtani has by no means gambled and “thinks playing is horrible.”
“He sees that individuals, teammates could be playing on a regular basis, and he’ll be like, ‘Why are they doing this? Playing shouldn’t be good.’ He would make feedback like that. Folks would ask him to go to casinos on highway journeys, and he would by no means go. No, he isn’t into it.”
6:05 a.m. ET Wednesday (7:05 p.m. in Seoul): The Dodgers open the 2024 season towards the Padres, successful 5-2. Ohtani will get two hits and is seen within the dugout laughing with Mizuhara within the last minutes of the sport.
9 a.m. ET Wednesday (10 p.m. in Seoul): An MLB supply says officers are conscious of what Mizuhara advised ESPN the earlier night time — that Ohtani had lined his money owed. The supply says MLB nonetheless has not heard again from federal authorities.
10 a.m. ET Wednesday (11 p.m. in Seoul): After the sport, the Dodgers maintain a gathering within the clubhouse, the place group proprietor Mark Walter tells the gamers a unfavourable story is coming, in accordance with a group official later interviewed by ESPN. Mizuhara apologizes, in accordance with the official, and tells the group he has a playing dependancy. A Dodgers government, Andrew Friedman, stands up and says Ohtani had helped to cowl Mizuhara’s losses, the group official and others current stated.
On the best way again to the resort, Ohtani begins asking questions on what had been stated within the clubhouse, the Ohtani spokesman advised ESPN, and his representatives say that is when Ohtani advised them he did not acknowledge Mizuhara’s model of the occasions. In accordance with the Dodgers official and Ohtani’s spokesman, Ohtani’s representatives had continued to depend on Mizuhara to speak with Ohtani whereas they have been coping with the state of affairs, and Mizuhara didn’t inform Ohtani what was occurring.
In accordance with the Ohtani spokesman, Ohtani discovers for the primary time Wednesday that cash is lacking from his account.
11:32 a.m. ET Wednesday (12:32 a.m. Thursday in Seoul): Ohtani’s spokesman advises ESPN to not publish its story. “Ippei was mendacity,” he says. “Shohei did not know.” In a fast collection of telephone calls that observe, the spokesman emphasizes that every one communication between Ohtani and his agent had gone by means of Mizuhara.
1:15 p.m. ET Wednesday (2:15 a.m. Thursday in Seoul): Due to the seriousness of that allegation and rising inconsistencies within the accounts, ESPN calls for that Ohtani’s spokesman go on the file with the theft allegations and provides him a 1:45 p.m. deadline. The Ohtani spokesman says Mizuhara is despondent and wishes to clarify his state of affairs to his household, and that attorneys are making ready an announcement. The spokesman guarantees an announcement by 2 p.m.
2 p.m. ET Wednesday (3 a.m. Thursday in Seoul): Ohtani’s legal professionals at Berk Brettler LLP subject an announcement to ESPN: “In the middle of responding to latest media inquiries, we found that Shohei has been the sufferer of an enormous theft and we’re turning the matter over to the authorities.”
The Ohtani spokesman declines to reply additional questions, and the assertion doesn’t specify whom they imagine perpetrated a theft.
2:30 p.m. ET Wednesday (3:30 a.m. Thursday in Seoul): The Dodgers fireplace Mizuhara instantly after studying in regards to the alleged theft, in accordance with a group official.
3:55 p.m. ET Wednesday (4:55 a.m. Thursday in Seoul): ESPN reaches Mizuhara by telephone. He says he had lied in his earlier interview and walks again a lot of what he had stated. He tells ESPN Ohtani had no data of his playing actions, money owed or efforts to repay them.
Requested if he had been accused of theft or embezzlement, he says he has been advised to not remark, however he declines to say by whom.
“Clearly, that is all my fault, every little thing I’ve achieved,” he says. “I am able to face all the implications.”
When did Ohtani grow to be conscious of the state of affairs?
“They advised me I can not reply something,” he says.
Ohtani’s representatives? Are they representing you?
“No.”
Are you taking any type of cost to inform me these items?
“No.”
Have you ever made any form of settlement to say these items?
“No.”
You are doing this of your individual volition and free will?
“Sure.”
Did you guess on baseball?
“No.”
Did you misinform Shohei?
“Sure.”
ESPN asks if he has ever purposely misinformed Ohtani whereas deciphering the problems the reporter is asking about. Mizuhara says: “No, I’ve by no means achieved that.”
The ESPN reporter texts him with a last query: Did you are taking the cash from Shohei’s accounts with out his data?
There isn’t a response.
4:13 p.m. ET Wednesday (5:13 a.m. Thursday in Seoul): The Ohtani spokesman tells ESPN that what has really occurred in latest days is that Mizuhara has been capable of management info to Ohtani in his place because the interpreter, and that Ohtani hadn’t realized what was occurring till the postgame clubhouse assembly, when a brand new interpreter was introduced in.
“He did not know any of it, did not know there was some inquiry,” the spokesman says. “After the sport, that is when he discovered. … He did not know what the f— was occurring.”
Tisha Thompson is an investigative reporter for ESPN. Attain her at tisha.thompson@espn.com.
ESPN’s Paula Lavigne, T.J. Quinn and Elaine Teng contributed to this report.
The sports activities world was rocked this week by information that Shohei Ohtani’s longtime interpreter and buddy, Ippei Mizuhara, had been fired by the Los Angeles Dodgers.
However Mizuhara’s termination was solely the most recent sharp flip in a zigzagging, 48-hour journey that performed out on two continents as ESPN reporters labored to reply questions on a minimum of $4.5 million in wire transfers despatched from Ohtani’s checking account to a bookmaking operation that’s below federal investigation. It is unclear if that twist would be the final.
Two days after the account from Ohtani’s handlers developed from superstar-bailing-out-his-friend to allegations of “huge theft,” questions stay, together with who, if anybody, is investigating the alleged theft. Ohtani’s representatives stated Thursday that they had formally submitted the allegation to regulation enforcement however didn’t say to which authorities.
A number of sources advised ESPN that neither the California Bureau of Investigation nor the FBI was working the case. Spokespersons with the Los Angeles Police Division and district lawyer’s places of work in Los Angeles and Orange counties all stated they weren’t investigating, they usually indicated it was almost certainly a federal matter. The U.S. Lawyer’s Workplace for the Central District of California declined to remark.
Sources, together with Mizuhara, have advised ESPN that Ohtani doesn’t gamble and that the funds have been transferred to cowl Mizuhara’s losses. A number of sources additionally stated not one of the betting was on baseball.
How this got here to unfold publicly begins with a tip ESPN obtained a number of months in the past that may be pursued by a number of reporters. Data was gathered over that timeframe, nevertheless it wasn’t till late Sunday that ESPN had sufficient affirmation to, for the primary time, ask inquiries to key figures, together with Main League Baseball officers, Ohtani representatives, federal regulation enforcement, the Dodgers and others.
7:30 p.m. ET Sunday (8:30 a.m. Monday in Seoul, South Korea): In accordance with a Main League Baseball supply, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred, whereas in South Korea making ready for the season-opening collection between the Dodgers and the San Diego Padres, learns one thing is occurring regarding Ohtani. A supply would later say MLB began looking for solutions from federal authorities in California early Monday however obtained no response.
3 p.m. ET Monday (4 a.m. Tuesday in Seoul): ESPN contacts Ohtani’s agent, Nez Balelo, to ask about info it has discovered, together with that Ohtani’s title gave the impression to be on two wire transfers totaling $1 million. The transfers had been despatched final September and October to the Southern California bookmaking operation of Mathew Bowyer. ESPN receives no quick response.
5:30 p.m. ET Monday (6:30 a.m. Tuesday in Seoul): A crisis-communications spokesman for Ohtani, who had simply been employed, responds to ESPN. Over the subsequent a number of hours, he and an ESPN reporter will speak at numerous occasions because the spokesman says he’s getting in control on info from the Ohtani camp.
8:30 p.m. ET Monday (9:30 a.m. Tuesday in Seoul): The spokesman for the primary time says Ohtani paid the money owed on behalf of Mizuhara. He says Balelo, the agent, went to Mizuhara, who “lastly got here clear to him and stated that was the reality,” and that Ohtani advised Balelo he had lined Mizuhara’s money owed in $500,000 increments. It isn’t clear if the spokesman is saying Ohtani communicated with Balelo by means of Mizuhara.
The spokesman quotes Ohtani as saying: “‘Yeah, I despatched a number of massive funds. That is the utmost quantity I might ship.'”
The ESPN reporter, understanding the spokesman labored for Ohtani, desires to listen to it from Mizuhara. The spokesman says he’ll work on arranging that.
9:05 p.m. ET Tuesday (10:05 a.m. Wednesday in Seoul): The Ohtani spokesman confirms to ESPN that the playing debt amounted to a minimum of $4.5 million, which ESPN had beforehand realized from different sources.
10:30 p.m. ET Tuesday (11:30 a.m. Wednesday in Seoul): Mizuhara speaks with an ESPN reporter by telephone for 90 minutes from South Korea. The interview has been organized — and is attended — by the Ohtani spokesman.
Mizuhara tells ESPN he met Bowyer at a poker sport in San Diego in 2021. Atlanta Braves infielder David Fletcher, who was pals with Ohtani after they each performed for the Los Angeles Angels, had beforehand advised ESPN that he was current on the poker sport, however he stated he didn’t introduce the bookie and interpreter. Fletcher and a supply with data of Bowyer’s operation advised ESPN that Bowyer gained admittance to the poker sport on the group resort by means of an acquaintance of Fletcher’s. Fletcher advised ESPN he had met Bowyer as soon as earlier than whereas taking part in golf, and that he had by no means positioned a guess with Bowyer’s group.
Within the ESPN interview, Mizuhara says he began betting with Bowyer on credit score shortly after they met, inserting wagers on a number of sports activities — however not baseball. He says he had beforehand guess on DraftKings and did not know Bowyer’s operation was unlawful. On the time, his wage with the Angels was about $85,000, he says, and by the tip of 2022 he had misplaced over $1 million and was borrowing cash from family and friends.
“I could not share this with Shohei. It was arduous for me to make my ends meet. I used to be going paycheck to paycheck,” Mizuhara says. “As a result of I form of needed to sustain together with his way of life. However on the similar time, I did not need to inform him this.”
He describes his relationship with Ohtani, whom he first met in 2013, as “brothers,” and says he spends extra time with Ohtani than together with his spouse.
Mizuhara’s debt ballooned to $4 million by early 2023, he tells ESPN, and that is when he says he went to Ohtani for assist. He says he feared shedding Ohtani’s belief, and he additionally feared for his security, that somebody would possibly come to his home.
“I defined my state of affairs,” he says. “And clearly he wasn’t blissful about it, however he stated he would assist me.”
Requested if Ohtani knew the particular person owed the cash was a bookie, Mizuhara says his buddy “did not have any clue.”
“I simply advised him I have to ship a wire to repay the debt,” Mizuhara says. “He did not ask if it was unlawful, did not query me about that.”
Mizuhara says that, after Ohtani agreed to pay the money owed, the 2 of them logged into Ohtani’s checking account on Ohtani’s laptop and despatched eight or 9 transactions, every at $500,000, over a number of months. They added “mortgage” to the outline subject within the transactions. Mizuhara estimates the ultimate cost was made in October.
Requested by ESPN if he thought he could be placing himself or Ohtani in danger by asking Ohtani to pay the money owed, Mizuhara says, “I do not assume both of us thought of that on the time in any respect.”
Mizuhara declines to inform ESPN the complete quantity he misplaced playing however confirms it is a minimum of $4.5 million. He calls it “embarrassing.”
“My spouse would not even learn about any of this till even proper now,” he says.
He says he felt uncomfortable and responsible for a number of weeks after asking Ohtani to pay again his money owed, however that Ohtani moved on. “It was arduous to see him,” Mizuhara says, “He is a fantastic man and just about he went on together with his life like nothing ever occurred.”
Requested if he supposed to pay again Ohtani, Mizuhara says he advised his buddy he would. He provides that Ohtani has by no means gambled and “thinks playing is horrible.”
“He sees that individuals, teammates could be playing on a regular basis, and he’ll be like, ‘Why are they doing this? Playing shouldn’t be good.’ He would make feedback like that. Folks would ask him to go to casinos on highway journeys, and he would by no means go. No, he isn’t into it.”
6:05 a.m. ET Wednesday (7:05 p.m. in Seoul): The Dodgers open the 2024 season towards the Padres, successful 5-2. Ohtani will get two hits and is seen within the dugout laughing with Mizuhara within the last minutes of the sport.
9 a.m. ET Wednesday (10 p.m. in Seoul): An MLB supply says officers are conscious of what Mizuhara advised ESPN the earlier night time — that Ohtani had lined his money owed. The supply says MLB nonetheless has not heard again from federal authorities.
10 a.m. ET Wednesday (11 p.m. in Seoul): After the sport, the Dodgers maintain a gathering within the clubhouse, the place group proprietor Mark Walter tells the gamers a unfavourable story is coming, in accordance with a group official later interviewed by ESPN. Mizuhara apologizes, in accordance with the official, and tells the group he has a playing dependancy. A Dodgers government, Andrew Friedman, stands up and says Ohtani had helped to cowl Mizuhara’s losses, the group official and others current stated.
On the best way again to the resort, Ohtani begins asking questions on what had been stated within the clubhouse, the Ohtani spokesman advised ESPN, and his representatives say that is when Ohtani advised them he did not acknowledge Mizuhara’s model of the occasions. In accordance with the Dodgers official and Ohtani’s spokesman, Ohtani’s representatives had continued to depend on Mizuhara to speak with Ohtani whereas they have been coping with the state of affairs, and Mizuhara didn’t inform Ohtani what was occurring.
In accordance with the Ohtani spokesman, Ohtani discovers for the primary time Wednesday that cash is lacking from his account.
11:32 a.m. ET Wednesday (12:32 a.m. Thursday in Seoul): Ohtani’s spokesman advises ESPN to not publish its story. “Ippei was mendacity,” he says. “Shohei did not know.” In a fast collection of telephone calls that observe, the spokesman emphasizes that every one communication between Ohtani and his agent had gone by means of Mizuhara.
1:15 p.m. ET Wednesday (2:15 a.m. Thursday in Seoul): Due to the seriousness of that allegation and rising inconsistencies within the accounts, ESPN calls for that Ohtani’s spokesman go on the file with the theft allegations and provides him a 1:45 p.m. deadline. The Ohtani spokesman says Mizuhara is despondent and wishes to clarify his state of affairs to his household, and that attorneys are making ready an announcement. The spokesman guarantees an announcement by 2 p.m.
2 p.m. ET Wednesday (3 a.m. Thursday in Seoul): Ohtani’s legal professionals at Berk Brettler LLP subject an announcement to ESPN: “In the middle of responding to latest media inquiries, we found that Shohei has been the sufferer of an enormous theft and we’re turning the matter over to the authorities.”
The Ohtani spokesman declines to reply additional questions, and the assertion doesn’t specify whom they imagine perpetrated a theft.
2:30 p.m. ET Wednesday (3:30 a.m. Thursday in Seoul): The Dodgers fireplace Mizuhara instantly after studying in regards to the alleged theft, in accordance with a group official.
3:55 p.m. ET Wednesday (4:55 a.m. Thursday in Seoul): ESPN reaches Mizuhara by telephone. He says he had lied in his earlier interview and walks again a lot of what he had stated. He tells ESPN Ohtani had no data of his playing actions, money owed or efforts to repay them.
Requested if he had been accused of theft or embezzlement, he says he has been advised to not remark, however he declines to say by whom.
“Clearly, that is all my fault, every little thing I’ve achieved,” he says. “I am able to face all the implications.”
When did Ohtani grow to be conscious of the state of affairs?
“They advised me I can not reply something,” he says.
Ohtani’s representatives? Are they representing you?
“No.”
Are you taking any type of cost to inform me these items?
“No.”
Have you ever made any form of settlement to say these items?
“No.”
You are doing this of your individual volition and free will?
“Sure.”
Did you guess on baseball?
“No.”
Did you misinform Shohei?
“Sure.”
ESPN asks if he has ever purposely misinformed Ohtani whereas deciphering the problems the reporter is asking about. Mizuhara says: “No, I’ve by no means achieved that.”
The ESPN reporter texts him with a last query: Did you are taking the cash from Shohei’s accounts with out his data?
There isn’t a response.
4:13 p.m. ET Wednesday (5:13 a.m. Thursday in Seoul): The Ohtani spokesman tells ESPN that what has really occurred in latest days is that Mizuhara has been capable of management info to Ohtani in his place because the interpreter, and that Ohtani hadn’t realized what was occurring till the postgame clubhouse assembly, when a brand new interpreter was introduced in.
“He did not know any of it, did not know there was some inquiry,” the spokesman says. “After the sport, that is when he discovered. … He did not know what the f— was occurring.”
Tisha Thompson is an investigative reporter for ESPN. Attain her at tisha.thompson@espn.com.
ESPN’s Paula Lavigne, T.J. Quinn and Elaine Teng contributed to this report.
The sports activities world was rocked this week by information that Shohei Ohtani’s longtime interpreter and buddy, Ippei Mizuhara, had been fired by the Los Angeles Dodgers.
However Mizuhara’s termination was solely the most recent sharp flip in a zigzagging, 48-hour journey that performed out on two continents as ESPN reporters labored to reply questions on a minimum of $4.5 million in wire transfers despatched from Ohtani’s checking account to a bookmaking operation that’s below federal investigation. It is unclear if that twist would be the final.
Two days after the account from Ohtani’s handlers developed from superstar-bailing-out-his-friend to allegations of “huge theft,” questions stay, together with who, if anybody, is investigating the alleged theft. Ohtani’s representatives stated Thursday that they had formally submitted the allegation to regulation enforcement however didn’t say to which authorities.
A number of sources advised ESPN that neither the California Bureau of Investigation nor the FBI was working the case. Spokespersons with the Los Angeles Police Division and district lawyer’s places of work in Los Angeles and Orange counties all stated they weren’t investigating, they usually indicated it was almost certainly a federal matter. The U.S. Lawyer’s Workplace for the Central District of California declined to remark.
Sources, together with Mizuhara, have advised ESPN that Ohtani doesn’t gamble and that the funds have been transferred to cowl Mizuhara’s losses. A number of sources additionally stated not one of the betting was on baseball.
How this got here to unfold publicly begins with a tip ESPN obtained a number of months in the past that may be pursued by a number of reporters. Data was gathered over that timeframe, nevertheless it wasn’t till late Sunday that ESPN had sufficient affirmation to, for the primary time, ask inquiries to key figures, together with Main League Baseball officers, Ohtani representatives, federal regulation enforcement, the Dodgers and others.
7:30 p.m. ET Sunday (8:30 a.m. Monday in Seoul, South Korea): In accordance with a Main League Baseball supply, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred, whereas in South Korea making ready for the season-opening collection between the Dodgers and the San Diego Padres, learns one thing is occurring regarding Ohtani. A supply would later say MLB began looking for solutions from federal authorities in California early Monday however obtained no response.
3 p.m. ET Monday (4 a.m. Tuesday in Seoul): ESPN contacts Ohtani’s agent, Nez Balelo, to ask about info it has discovered, together with that Ohtani’s title gave the impression to be on two wire transfers totaling $1 million. The transfers had been despatched final September and October to the Southern California bookmaking operation of Mathew Bowyer. ESPN receives no quick response.
5:30 p.m. ET Monday (6:30 a.m. Tuesday in Seoul): A crisis-communications spokesman for Ohtani, who had simply been employed, responds to ESPN. Over the subsequent a number of hours, he and an ESPN reporter will speak at numerous occasions because the spokesman says he’s getting in control on info from the Ohtani camp.
8:30 p.m. ET Monday (9:30 a.m. Tuesday in Seoul): The spokesman for the primary time says Ohtani paid the money owed on behalf of Mizuhara. He says Balelo, the agent, went to Mizuhara, who “lastly got here clear to him and stated that was the reality,” and that Ohtani advised Balelo he had lined Mizuhara’s money owed in $500,000 increments. It isn’t clear if the spokesman is saying Ohtani communicated with Balelo by means of Mizuhara.
The spokesman quotes Ohtani as saying: “‘Yeah, I despatched a number of massive funds. That is the utmost quantity I might ship.'”
The ESPN reporter, understanding the spokesman labored for Ohtani, desires to listen to it from Mizuhara. The spokesman says he’ll work on arranging that.
9:05 p.m. ET Tuesday (10:05 a.m. Wednesday in Seoul): The Ohtani spokesman confirms to ESPN that the playing debt amounted to a minimum of $4.5 million, which ESPN had beforehand realized from different sources.
10:30 p.m. ET Tuesday (11:30 a.m. Wednesday in Seoul): Mizuhara speaks with an ESPN reporter by telephone for 90 minutes from South Korea. The interview has been organized — and is attended — by the Ohtani spokesman.
Mizuhara tells ESPN he met Bowyer at a poker sport in San Diego in 2021. Atlanta Braves infielder David Fletcher, who was pals with Ohtani after they each performed for the Los Angeles Angels, had beforehand advised ESPN that he was current on the poker sport, however he stated he didn’t introduce the bookie and interpreter. Fletcher and a supply with data of Bowyer’s operation advised ESPN that Bowyer gained admittance to the poker sport on the group resort by means of an acquaintance of Fletcher’s. Fletcher advised ESPN he had met Bowyer as soon as earlier than whereas taking part in golf, and that he had by no means positioned a guess with Bowyer’s group.
Within the ESPN interview, Mizuhara says he began betting with Bowyer on credit score shortly after they met, inserting wagers on a number of sports activities — however not baseball. He says he had beforehand guess on DraftKings and did not know Bowyer’s operation was unlawful. On the time, his wage with the Angels was about $85,000, he says, and by the tip of 2022 he had misplaced over $1 million and was borrowing cash from family and friends.
“I could not share this with Shohei. It was arduous for me to make my ends meet. I used to be going paycheck to paycheck,” Mizuhara says. “As a result of I form of needed to sustain together with his way of life. However on the similar time, I did not need to inform him this.”
He describes his relationship with Ohtani, whom he first met in 2013, as “brothers,” and says he spends extra time with Ohtani than together with his spouse.
Mizuhara’s debt ballooned to $4 million by early 2023, he tells ESPN, and that is when he says he went to Ohtani for assist. He says he feared shedding Ohtani’s belief, and he additionally feared for his security, that somebody would possibly come to his home.
“I defined my state of affairs,” he says. “And clearly he wasn’t blissful about it, however he stated he would assist me.”
Requested if Ohtani knew the particular person owed the cash was a bookie, Mizuhara says his buddy “did not have any clue.”
“I simply advised him I have to ship a wire to repay the debt,” Mizuhara says. “He did not ask if it was unlawful, did not query me about that.”
Mizuhara says that, after Ohtani agreed to pay the money owed, the 2 of them logged into Ohtani’s checking account on Ohtani’s laptop and despatched eight or 9 transactions, every at $500,000, over a number of months. They added “mortgage” to the outline subject within the transactions. Mizuhara estimates the ultimate cost was made in October.
Requested by ESPN if he thought he could be placing himself or Ohtani in danger by asking Ohtani to pay the money owed, Mizuhara says, “I do not assume both of us thought of that on the time in any respect.”
Mizuhara declines to inform ESPN the complete quantity he misplaced playing however confirms it is a minimum of $4.5 million. He calls it “embarrassing.”
“My spouse would not even learn about any of this till even proper now,” he says.
He says he felt uncomfortable and responsible for a number of weeks after asking Ohtani to pay again his money owed, however that Ohtani moved on. “It was arduous to see him,” Mizuhara says, “He is a fantastic man and just about he went on together with his life like nothing ever occurred.”
Requested if he supposed to pay again Ohtani, Mizuhara says he advised his buddy he would. He provides that Ohtani has by no means gambled and “thinks playing is horrible.”
“He sees that individuals, teammates could be playing on a regular basis, and he’ll be like, ‘Why are they doing this? Playing shouldn’t be good.’ He would make feedback like that. Folks would ask him to go to casinos on highway journeys, and he would by no means go. No, he isn’t into it.”
6:05 a.m. ET Wednesday (7:05 p.m. in Seoul): The Dodgers open the 2024 season towards the Padres, successful 5-2. Ohtani will get two hits and is seen within the dugout laughing with Mizuhara within the last minutes of the sport.
9 a.m. ET Wednesday (10 p.m. in Seoul): An MLB supply says officers are conscious of what Mizuhara advised ESPN the earlier night time — that Ohtani had lined his money owed. The supply says MLB nonetheless has not heard again from federal authorities.
10 a.m. ET Wednesday (11 p.m. in Seoul): After the sport, the Dodgers maintain a gathering within the clubhouse, the place group proprietor Mark Walter tells the gamers a unfavourable story is coming, in accordance with a group official later interviewed by ESPN. Mizuhara apologizes, in accordance with the official, and tells the group he has a playing dependancy. A Dodgers government, Andrew Friedman, stands up and says Ohtani had helped to cowl Mizuhara’s losses, the group official and others current stated.
On the best way again to the resort, Ohtani begins asking questions on what had been stated within the clubhouse, the Ohtani spokesman advised ESPN, and his representatives say that is when Ohtani advised them he did not acknowledge Mizuhara’s model of the occasions. In accordance with the Dodgers official and Ohtani’s spokesman, Ohtani’s representatives had continued to depend on Mizuhara to speak with Ohtani whereas they have been coping with the state of affairs, and Mizuhara didn’t inform Ohtani what was occurring.
In accordance with the Ohtani spokesman, Ohtani discovers for the primary time Wednesday that cash is lacking from his account.
11:32 a.m. ET Wednesday (12:32 a.m. Thursday in Seoul): Ohtani’s spokesman advises ESPN to not publish its story. “Ippei was mendacity,” he says. “Shohei did not know.” In a fast collection of telephone calls that observe, the spokesman emphasizes that every one communication between Ohtani and his agent had gone by means of Mizuhara.
1:15 p.m. ET Wednesday (2:15 a.m. Thursday in Seoul): Due to the seriousness of that allegation and rising inconsistencies within the accounts, ESPN calls for that Ohtani’s spokesman go on the file with the theft allegations and provides him a 1:45 p.m. deadline. The Ohtani spokesman says Mizuhara is despondent and wishes to clarify his state of affairs to his household, and that attorneys are making ready an announcement. The spokesman guarantees an announcement by 2 p.m.
2 p.m. ET Wednesday (3 a.m. Thursday in Seoul): Ohtani’s legal professionals at Berk Brettler LLP subject an announcement to ESPN: “In the middle of responding to latest media inquiries, we found that Shohei has been the sufferer of an enormous theft and we’re turning the matter over to the authorities.”
The Ohtani spokesman declines to reply additional questions, and the assertion doesn’t specify whom they imagine perpetrated a theft.
2:30 p.m. ET Wednesday (3:30 a.m. Thursday in Seoul): The Dodgers fireplace Mizuhara instantly after studying in regards to the alleged theft, in accordance with a group official.
3:55 p.m. ET Wednesday (4:55 a.m. Thursday in Seoul): ESPN reaches Mizuhara by telephone. He says he had lied in his earlier interview and walks again a lot of what he had stated. He tells ESPN Ohtani had no data of his playing actions, money owed or efforts to repay them.
Requested if he had been accused of theft or embezzlement, he says he has been advised to not remark, however he declines to say by whom.
“Clearly, that is all my fault, every little thing I’ve achieved,” he says. “I am able to face all the implications.”
When did Ohtani grow to be conscious of the state of affairs?
“They advised me I can not reply something,” he says.
Ohtani’s representatives? Are they representing you?
“No.”
Are you taking any type of cost to inform me these items?
“No.”
Have you ever made any form of settlement to say these items?
“No.”
You are doing this of your individual volition and free will?
“Sure.”
Did you guess on baseball?
“No.”
Did you misinform Shohei?
“Sure.”
ESPN asks if he has ever purposely misinformed Ohtani whereas deciphering the problems the reporter is asking about. Mizuhara says: “No, I’ve by no means achieved that.”
The ESPN reporter texts him with a last query: Did you are taking the cash from Shohei’s accounts with out his data?
There isn’t a response.
4:13 p.m. ET Wednesday (5:13 a.m. Thursday in Seoul): The Ohtani spokesman tells ESPN that what has really occurred in latest days is that Mizuhara has been capable of management info to Ohtani in his place because the interpreter, and that Ohtani hadn’t realized what was occurring till the postgame clubhouse assembly, when a brand new interpreter was introduced in.
“He did not know any of it, did not know there was some inquiry,” the spokesman says. “After the sport, that is when he discovered. … He did not know what the f— was occurring.”
Tisha Thompson is an investigative reporter for ESPN. Attain her at tisha.thompson@espn.com.
ESPN’s Paula Lavigne, T.J. Quinn and Elaine Teng contributed to this report.
The sports activities world was rocked this week by information that Shohei Ohtani’s longtime interpreter and buddy, Ippei Mizuhara, had been fired by the Los Angeles Dodgers.
However Mizuhara’s termination was solely the most recent sharp flip in a zigzagging, 48-hour journey that performed out on two continents as ESPN reporters labored to reply questions on a minimum of $4.5 million in wire transfers despatched from Ohtani’s checking account to a bookmaking operation that’s below federal investigation. It is unclear if that twist would be the final.
Two days after the account from Ohtani’s handlers developed from superstar-bailing-out-his-friend to allegations of “huge theft,” questions stay, together with who, if anybody, is investigating the alleged theft. Ohtani’s representatives stated Thursday that they had formally submitted the allegation to regulation enforcement however didn’t say to which authorities.
A number of sources advised ESPN that neither the California Bureau of Investigation nor the FBI was working the case. Spokespersons with the Los Angeles Police Division and district lawyer’s places of work in Los Angeles and Orange counties all stated they weren’t investigating, they usually indicated it was almost certainly a federal matter. The U.S. Lawyer’s Workplace for the Central District of California declined to remark.
Sources, together with Mizuhara, have advised ESPN that Ohtani doesn’t gamble and that the funds have been transferred to cowl Mizuhara’s losses. A number of sources additionally stated not one of the betting was on baseball.
How this got here to unfold publicly begins with a tip ESPN obtained a number of months in the past that may be pursued by a number of reporters. Data was gathered over that timeframe, nevertheless it wasn’t till late Sunday that ESPN had sufficient affirmation to, for the primary time, ask inquiries to key figures, together with Main League Baseball officers, Ohtani representatives, federal regulation enforcement, the Dodgers and others.
7:30 p.m. ET Sunday (8:30 a.m. Monday in Seoul, South Korea): In accordance with a Main League Baseball supply, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred, whereas in South Korea making ready for the season-opening collection between the Dodgers and the San Diego Padres, learns one thing is occurring regarding Ohtani. A supply would later say MLB began looking for solutions from federal authorities in California early Monday however obtained no response.
3 p.m. ET Monday (4 a.m. Tuesday in Seoul): ESPN contacts Ohtani’s agent, Nez Balelo, to ask about info it has discovered, together with that Ohtani’s title gave the impression to be on two wire transfers totaling $1 million. The transfers had been despatched final September and October to the Southern California bookmaking operation of Mathew Bowyer. ESPN receives no quick response.
5:30 p.m. ET Monday (6:30 a.m. Tuesday in Seoul): A crisis-communications spokesman for Ohtani, who had simply been employed, responds to ESPN. Over the subsequent a number of hours, he and an ESPN reporter will speak at numerous occasions because the spokesman says he’s getting in control on info from the Ohtani camp.
8:30 p.m. ET Monday (9:30 a.m. Tuesday in Seoul): The spokesman for the primary time says Ohtani paid the money owed on behalf of Mizuhara. He says Balelo, the agent, went to Mizuhara, who “lastly got here clear to him and stated that was the reality,” and that Ohtani advised Balelo he had lined Mizuhara’s money owed in $500,000 increments. It isn’t clear if the spokesman is saying Ohtani communicated with Balelo by means of Mizuhara.
The spokesman quotes Ohtani as saying: “‘Yeah, I despatched a number of massive funds. That is the utmost quantity I might ship.'”
The ESPN reporter, understanding the spokesman labored for Ohtani, desires to listen to it from Mizuhara. The spokesman says he’ll work on arranging that.
9:05 p.m. ET Tuesday (10:05 a.m. Wednesday in Seoul): The Ohtani spokesman confirms to ESPN that the playing debt amounted to a minimum of $4.5 million, which ESPN had beforehand realized from different sources.
10:30 p.m. ET Tuesday (11:30 a.m. Wednesday in Seoul): Mizuhara speaks with an ESPN reporter by telephone for 90 minutes from South Korea. The interview has been organized — and is attended — by the Ohtani spokesman.
Mizuhara tells ESPN he met Bowyer at a poker sport in San Diego in 2021. Atlanta Braves infielder David Fletcher, who was pals with Ohtani after they each performed for the Los Angeles Angels, had beforehand advised ESPN that he was current on the poker sport, however he stated he didn’t introduce the bookie and interpreter. Fletcher and a supply with data of Bowyer’s operation advised ESPN that Bowyer gained admittance to the poker sport on the group resort by means of an acquaintance of Fletcher’s. Fletcher advised ESPN he had met Bowyer as soon as earlier than whereas taking part in golf, and that he had by no means positioned a guess with Bowyer’s group.
Within the ESPN interview, Mizuhara says he began betting with Bowyer on credit score shortly after they met, inserting wagers on a number of sports activities — however not baseball. He says he had beforehand guess on DraftKings and did not know Bowyer’s operation was unlawful. On the time, his wage with the Angels was about $85,000, he says, and by the tip of 2022 he had misplaced over $1 million and was borrowing cash from family and friends.
“I could not share this with Shohei. It was arduous for me to make my ends meet. I used to be going paycheck to paycheck,” Mizuhara says. “As a result of I form of needed to sustain together with his way of life. However on the similar time, I did not need to inform him this.”
He describes his relationship with Ohtani, whom he first met in 2013, as “brothers,” and says he spends extra time with Ohtani than together with his spouse.
Mizuhara’s debt ballooned to $4 million by early 2023, he tells ESPN, and that is when he says he went to Ohtani for assist. He says he feared shedding Ohtani’s belief, and he additionally feared for his security, that somebody would possibly come to his home.
“I defined my state of affairs,” he says. “And clearly he wasn’t blissful about it, however he stated he would assist me.”
Requested if Ohtani knew the particular person owed the cash was a bookie, Mizuhara says his buddy “did not have any clue.”
“I simply advised him I have to ship a wire to repay the debt,” Mizuhara says. “He did not ask if it was unlawful, did not query me about that.”
Mizuhara says that, after Ohtani agreed to pay the money owed, the 2 of them logged into Ohtani’s checking account on Ohtani’s laptop and despatched eight or 9 transactions, every at $500,000, over a number of months. They added “mortgage” to the outline subject within the transactions. Mizuhara estimates the ultimate cost was made in October.
Requested by ESPN if he thought he could be placing himself or Ohtani in danger by asking Ohtani to pay the money owed, Mizuhara says, “I do not assume both of us thought of that on the time in any respect.”
Mizuhara declines to inform ESPN the complete quantity he misplaced playing however confirms it is a minimum of $4.5 million. He calls it “embarrassing.”
“My spouse would not even learn about any of this till even proper now,” he says.
He says he felt uncomfortable and responsible for a number of weeks after asking Ohtani to pay again his money owed, however that Ohtani moved on. “It was arduous to see him,” Mizuhara says, “He is a fantastic man and just about he went on together with his life like nothing ever occurred.”
Requested if he supposed to pay again Ohtani, Mizuhara says he advised his buddy he would. He provides that Ohtani has by no means gambled and “thinks playing is horrible.”
“He sees that individuals, teammates could be playing on a regular basis, and he’ll be like, ‘Why are they doing this? Playing shouldn’t be good.’ He would make feedback like that. Folks would ask him to go to casinos on highway journeys, and he would by no means go. No, he isn’t into it.”
6:05 a.m. ET Wednesday (7:05 p.m. in Seoul): The Dodgers open the 2024 season towards the Padres, successful 5-2. Ohtani will get two hits and is seen within the dugout laughing with Mizuhara within the last minutes of the sport.
9 a.m. ET Wednesday (10 p.m. in Seoul): An MLB supply says officers are conscious of what Mizuhara advised ESPN the earlier night time — that Ohtani had lined his money owed. The supply says MLB nonetheless has not heard again from federal authorities.
10 a.m. ET Wednesday (11 p.m. in Seoul): After the sport, the Dodgers maintain a gathering within the clubhouse, the place group proprietor Mark Walter tells the gamers a unfavourable story is coming, in accordance with a group official later interviewed by ESPN. Mizuhara apologizes, in accordance with the official, and tells the group he has a playing dependancy. A Dodgers government, Andrew Friedman, stands up and says Ohtani had helped to cowl Mizuhara’s losses, the group official and others current stated.
On the best way again to the resort, Ohtani begins asking questions on what had been stated within the clubhouse, the Ohtani spokesman advised ESPN, and his representatives say that is when Ohtani advised them he did not acknowledge Mizuhara’s model of the occasions. In accordance with the Dodgers official and Ohtani’s spokesman, Ohtani’s representatives had continued to depend on Mizuhara to speak with Ohtani whereas they have been coping with the state of affairs, and Mizuhara didn’t inform Ohtani what was occurring.
In accordance with the Ohtani spokesman, Ohtani discovers for the primary time Wednesday that cash is lacking from his account.
11:32 a.m. ET Wednesday (12:32 a.m. Thursday in Seoul): Ohtani’s spokesman advises ESPN to not publish its story. “Ippei was mendacity,” he says. “Shohei did not know.” In a fast collection of telephone calls that observe, the spokesman emphasizes that every one communication between Ohtani and his agent had gone by means of Mizuhara.
1:15 p.m. ET Wednesday (2:15 a.m. Thursday in Seoul): Due to the seriousness of that allegation and rising inconsistencies within the accounts, ESPN calls for that Ohtani’s spokesman go on the file with the theft allegations and provides him a 1:45 p.m. deadline. The Ohtani spokesman says Mizuhara is despondent and wishes to clarify his state of affairs to his household, and that attorneys are making ready an announcement. The spokesman guarantees an announcement by 2 p.m.
2 p.m. ET Wednesday (3 a.m. Thursday in Seoul): Ohtani’s legal professionals at Berk Brettler LLP subject an announcement to ESPN: “In the middle of responding to latest media inquiries, we found that Shohei has been the sufferer of an enormous theft and we’re turning the matter over to the authorities.”
The Ohtani spokesman declines to reply additional questions, and the assertion doesn’t specify whom they imagine perpetrated a theft.
2:30 p.m. ET Wednesday (3:30 a.m. Thursday in Seoul): The Dodgers fireplace Mizuhara instantly after studying in regards to the alleged theft, in accordance with a group official.
3:55 p.m. ET Wednesday (4:55 a.m. Thursday in Seoul): ESPN reaches Mizuhara by telephone. He says he had lied in his earlier interview and walks again a lot of what he had stated. He tells ESPN Ohtani had no data of his playing actions, money owed or efforts to repay them.
Requested if he had been accused of theft or embezzlement, he says he has been advised to not remark, however he declines to say by whom.
“Clearly, that is all my fault, every little thing I’ve achieved,” he says. “I am able to face all the implications.”
When did Ohtani grow to be conscious of the state of affairs?
“They advised me I can not reply something,” he says.
Ohtani’s representatives? Are they representing you?
“No.”
Are you taking any type of cost to inform me these items?
“No.”
Have you ever made any form of settlement to say these items?
“No.”
You are doing this of your individual volition and free will?
“Sure.”
Did you guess on baseball?
“No.”
Did you misinform Shohei?
“Sure.”
ESPN asks if he has ever purposely misinformed Ohtani whereas deciphering the problems the reporter is asking about. Mizuhara says: “No, I’ve by no means achieved that.”
The ESPN reporter texts him with a last query: Did you are taking the cash from Shohei’s accounts with out his data?
There isn’t a response.
4:13 p.m. ET Wednesday (5:13 a.m. Thursday in Seoul): The Ohtani spokesman tells ESPN that what has really occurred in latest days is that Mizuhara has been capable of management info to Ohtani in his place because the interpreter, and that Ohtani hadn’t realized what was occurring till the postgame clubhouse assembly, when a brand new interpreter was introduced in.
“He did not know any of it, did not know there was some inquiry,” the spokesman says. “After the sport, that is when he discovered. … He did not know what the f— was occurring.”
Tisha Thompson is an investigative reporter for ESPN. Attain her at tisha.thompson@espn.com.
ESPN’s Paula Lavigne, T.J. Quinn and Elaine Teng contributed to this report.
The sports activities world was rocked this week by information that Shohei Ohtani’s longtime interpreter and buddy, Ippei Mizuhara, had been fired by the Los Angeles Dodgers.
However Mizuhara’s termination was solely the most recent sharp flip in a zigzagging, 48-hour journey that performed out on two continents as ESPN reporters labored to reply questions on a minimum of $4.5 million in wire transfers despatched from Ohtani’s checking account to a bookmaking operation that’s below federal investigation. It is unclear if that twist would be the final.
Two days after the account from Ohtani’s handlers developed from superstar-bailing-out-his-friend to allegations of “huge theft,” questions stay, together with who, if anybody, is investigating the alleged theft. Ohtani’s representatives stated Thursday that they had formally submitted the allegation to regulation enforcement however didn’t say to which authorities.
A number of sources advised ESPN that neither the California Bureau of Investigation nor the FBI was working the case. Spokespersons with the Los Angeles Police Division and district lawyer’s places of work in Los Angeles and Orange counties all stated they weren’t investigating, they usually indicated it was almost certainly a federal matter. The U.S. Lawyer’s Workplace for the Central District of California declined to remark.
Sources, together with Mizuhara, have advised ESPN that Ohtani doesn’t gamble and that the funds have been transferred to cowl Mizuhara’s losses. A number of sources additionally stated not one of the betting was on baseball.
How this got here to unfold publicly begins with a tip ESPN obtained a number of months in the past that may be pursued by a number of reporters. Data was gathered over that timeframe, nevertheless it wasn’t till late Sunday that ESPN had sufficient affirmation to, for the primary time, ask inquiries to key figures, together with Main League Baseball officers, Ohtani representatives, federal regulation enforcement, the Dodgers and others.
7:30 p.m. ET Sunday (8:30 a.m. Monday in Seoul, South Korea): In accordance with a Main League Baseball supply, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred, whereas in South Korea making ready for the season-opening collection between the Dodgers and the San Diego Padres, learns one thing is occurring regarding Ohtani. A supply would later say MLB began looking for solutions from federal authorities in California early Monday however obtained no response.
3 p.m. ET Monday (4 a.m. Tuesday in Seoul): ESPN contacts Ohtani’s agent, Nez Balelo, to ask about info it has discovered, together with that Ohtani’s title gave the impression to be on two wire transfers totaling $1 million. The transfers had been despatched final September and October to the Southern California bookmaking operation of Mathew Bowyer. ESPN receives no quick response.
5:30 p.m. ET Monday (6:30 a.m. Tuesday in Seoul): A crisis-communications spokesman for Ohtani, who had simply been employed, responds to ESPN. Over the subsequent a number of hours, he and an ESPN reporter will speak at numerous occasions because the spokesman says he’s getting in control on info from the Ohtani camp.
8:30 p.m. ET Monday (9:30 a.m. Tuesday in Seoul): The spokesman for the primary time says Ohtani paid the money owed on behalf of Mizuhara. He says Balelo, the agent, went to Mizuhara, who “lastly got here clear to him and stated that was the reality,” and that Ohtani advised Balelo he had lined Mizuhara’s money owed in $500,000 increments. It isn’t clear if the spokesman is saying Ohtani communicated with Balelo by means of Mizuhara.
The spokesman quotes Ohtani as saying: “‘Yeah, I despatched a number of massive funds. That is the utmost quantity I might ship.'”
The ESPN reporter, understanding the spokesman labored for Ohtani, desires to listen to it from Mizuhara. The spokesman says he’ll work on arranging that.
9:05 p.m. ET Tuesday (10:05 a.m. Wednesday in Seoul): The Ohtani spokesman confirms to ESPN that the playing debt amounted to a minimum of $4.5 million, which ESPN had beforehand realized from different sources.
10:30 p.m. ET Tuesday (11:30 a.m. Wednesday in Seoul): Mizuhara speaks with an ESPN reporter by telephone for 90 minutes from South Korea. The interview has been organized — and is attended — by the Ohtani spokesman.
Mizuhara tells ESPN he met Bowyer at a poker sport in San Diego in 2021. Atlanta Braves infielder David Fletcher, who was pals with Ohtani after they each performed for the Los Angeles Angels, had beforehand advised ESPN that he was current on the poker sport, however he stated he didn’t introduce the bookie and interpreter. Fletcher and a supply with data of Bowyer’s operation advised ESPN that Bowyer gained admittance to the poker sport on the group resort by means of an acquaintance of Fletcher’s. Fletcher advised ESPN he had met Bowyer as soon as earlier than whereas taking part in golf, and that he had by no means positioned a guess with Bowyer’s group.
Within the ESPN interview, Mizuhara says he began betting with Bowyer on credit score shortly after they met, inserting wagers on a number of sports activities — however not baseball. He says he had beforehand guess on DraftKings and did not know Bowyer’s operation was unlawful. On the time, his wage with the Angels was about $85,000, he says, and by the tip of 2022 he had misplaced over $1 million and was borrowing cash from family and friends.
“I could not share this with Shohei. It was arduous for me to make my ends meet. I used to be going paycheck to paycheck,” Mizuhara says. “As a result of I form of needed to sustain together with his way of life. However on the similar time, I did not need to inform him this.”
He describes his relationship with Ohtani, whom he first met in 2013, as “brothers,” and says he spends extra time with Ohtani than together with his spouse.
Mizuhara’s debt ballooned to $4 million by early 2023, he tells ESPN, and that is when he says he went to Ohtani for assist. He says he feared shedding Ohtani’s belief, and he additionally feared for his security, that somebody would possibly come to his home.
“I defined my state of affairs,” he says. “And clearly he wasn’t blissful about it, however he stated he would assist me.”
Requested if Ohtani knew the particular person owed the cash was a bookie, Mizuhara says his buddy “did not have any clue.”
“I simply advised him I have to ship a wire to repay the debt,” Mizuhara says. “He did not ask if it was unlawful, did not query me about that.”
Mizuhara says that, after Ohtani agreed to pay the money owed, the 2 of them logged into Ohtani’s checking account on Ohtani’s laptop and despatched eight or 9 transactions, every at $500,000, over a number of months. They added “mortgage” to the outline subject within the transactions. Mizuhara estimates the ultimate cost was made in October.
Requested by ESPN if he thought he could be placing himself or Ohtani in danger by asking Ohtani to pay the money owed, Mizuhara says, “I do not assume both of us thought of that on the time in any respect.”
Mizuhara declines to inform ESPN the complete quantity he misplaced playing however confirms it is a minimum of $4.5 million. He calls it “embarrassing.”
“My spouse would not even learn about any of this till even proper now,” he says.
He says he felt uncomfortable and responsible for a number of weeks after asking Ohtani to pay again his money owed, however that Ohtani moved on. “It was arduous to see him,” Mizuhara says, “He is a fantastic man and just about he went on together with his life like nothing ever occurred.”
Requested if he supposed to pay again Ohtani, Mizuhara says he advised his buddy he would. He provides that Ohtani has by no means gambled and “thinks playing is horrible.”
“He sees that individuals, teammates could be playing on a regular basis, and he’ll be like, ‘Why are they doing this? Playing shouldn’t be good.’ He would make feedback like that. Folks would ask him to go to casinos on highway journeys, and he would by no means go. No, he isn’t into it.”
6:05 a.m. ET Wednesday (7:05 p.m. in Seoul): The Dodgers open the 2024 season towards the Padres, successful 5-2. Ohtani will get two hits and is seen within the dugout laughing with Mizuhara within the last minutes of the sport.
9 a.m. ET Wednesday (10 p.m. in Seoul): An MLB supply says officers are conscious of what Mizuhara advised ESPN the earlier night time — that Ohtani had lined his money owed. The supply says MLB nonetheless has not heard again from federal authorities.
10 a.m. ET Wednesday (11 p.m. in Seoul): After the sport, the Dodgers maintain a gathering within the clubhouse, the place group proprietor Mark Walter tells the gamers a unfavourable story is coming, in accordance with a group official later interviewed by ESPN. Mizuhara apologizes, in accordance with the official, and tells the group he has a playing dependancy. A Dodgers government, Andrew Friedman, stands up and says Ohtani had helped to cowl Mizuhara’s losses, the group official and others current stated.
On the best way again to the resort, Ohtani begins asking questions on what had been stated within the clubhouse, the Ohtani spokesman advised ESPN, and his representatives say that is when Ohtani advised them he did not acknowledge Mizuhara’s model of the occasions. In accordance with the Dodgers official and Ohtani’s spokesman, Ohtani’s representatives had continued to depend on Mizuhara to speak with Ohtani whereas they have been coping with the state of affairs, and Mizuhara didn’t inform Ohtani what was occurring.
In accordance with the Ohtani spokesman, Ohtani discovers for the primary time Wednesday that cash is lacking from his account.
11:32 a.m. ET Wednesday (12:32 a.m. Thursday in Seoul): Ohtani’s spokesman advises ESPN to not publish its story. “Ippei was mendacity,” he says. “Shohei did not know.” In a fast collection of telephone calls that observe, the spokesman emphasizes that every one communication between Ohtani and his agent had gone by means of Mizuhara.
1:15 p.m. ET Wednesday (2:15 a.m. Thursday in Seoul): Due to the seriousness of that allegation and rising inconsistencies within the accounts, ESPN calls for that Ohtani’s spokesman go on the file with the theft allegations and provides him a 1:45 p.m. deadline. The Ohtani spokesman says Mizuhara is despondent and wishes to clarify his state of affairs to his household, and that attorneys are making ready an announcement. The spokesman guarantees an announcement by 2 p.m.
2 p.m. ET Wednesday (3 a.m. Thursday in Seoul): Ohtani’s legal professionals at Berk Brettler LLP subject an announcement to ESPN: “In the middle of responding to latest media inquiries, we found that Shohei has been the sufferer of an enormous theft and we’re turning the matter over to the authorities.”
The Ohtani spokesman declines to reply additional questions, and the assertion doesn’t specify whom they imagine perpetrated a theft.
2:30 p.m. ET Wednesday (3:30 a.m. Thursday in Seoul): The Dodgers fireplace Mizuhara instantly after studying in regards to the alleged theft, in accordance with a group official.
3:55 p.m. ET Wednesday (4:55 a.m. Thursday in Seoul): ESPN reaches Mizuhara by telephone. He says he had lied in his earlier interview and walks again a lot of what he had stated. He tells ESPN Ohtani had no data of his playing actions, money owed or efforts to repay them.
Requested if he had been accused of theft or embezzlement, he says he has been advised to not remark, however he declines to say by whom.
“Clearly, that is all my fault, every little thing I’ve achieved,” he says. “I am able to face all the implications.”
When did Ohtani grow to be conscious of the state of affairs?
“They advised me I can not reply something,” he says.
Ohtani’s representatives? Are they representing you?
“No.”
Are you taking any type of cost to inform me these items?
“No.”
Have you ever made any form of settlement to say these items?
“No.”
You are doing this of your individual volition and free will?
“Sure.”
Did you guess on baseball?
“No.”
Did you misinform Shohei?
“Sure.”
ESPN asks if he has ever purposely misinformed Ohtani whereas deciphering the problems the reporter is asking about. Mizuhara says: “No, I’ve by no means achieved that.”
The ESPN reporter texts him with a last query: Did you are taking the cash from Shohei’s accounts with out his data?
There isn’t a response.
4:13 p.m. ET Wednesday (5:13 a.m. Thursday in Seoul): The Ohtani spokesman tells ESPN that what has really occurred in latest days is that Mizuhara has been capable of management info to Ohtani in his place because the interpreter, and that Ohtani hadn’t realized what was occurring till the postgame clubhouse assembly, when a brand new interpreter was introduced in.
“He did not know any of it, did not know there was some inquiry,” the spokesman says. “After the sport, that is when he discovered. … He did not know what the f— was occurring.”
Tisha Thompson is an investigative reporter for ESPN. Attain her at tisha.thompson@espn.com.
ESPN’s Paula Lavigne, T.J. Quinn and Elaine Teng contributed to this report.