Here is all you need to know about Ippei Mizuhara, Shohei Ohtani’s ex-interpreter, have a look at his wife
Longtime Dodgers player Shohei Ohtani’s interpreter was let off on Wednesday, according to the Los Angeles Times, after Ohtani’s lawyers accused him of “massive theft” that they claimed had a connection to gambling.
ESPN and the newspaper said that Ohtani’s legal team had accused former interpreter Ippei Mizuhara of embezzling millions of dollars and betting with a bookmaker who was under federal investigation. Ohtani’s bank account saw the payment of at least $4.5 million (£3.5 million) to a bookmaker.
Who is the wife of Ippei Mizuhara as interpreter of Shohei Ohtani is sacked by Los Angeles Dodgers
Ohtani’s name appears on two $500,000 payments; one made in September and the other in October; to a bookmaking business owned by Mathew Bowyer, according to bank records that ESPN claims to have examined.
The Dodgers fired interpreter Ippei Mizuhara after Ohtani's lawyers accused Mizuhara of "massive theft," via multiple reports. pic.twitter.com/RgNvD35BJw
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) March 20, 2024
It is unknown if baseball games were a part of Mr. Mizuhara’s sports gambling. Nobody has claimed that Ohtani made any bets. Here is all you need to know about who Ippei Mizuhara is.
Who is Ippei Mizuhara?
Ippei Mizuhara is a Japanese-American interpreter who was born on December 31, 1984 in Tomakomai, Hokkaido, Japan. He is currently 39 years old with his height at 1.86m.
He went to High School at Diamond Bar. In 2007, he received his degree from the Riverside University of California.
A look at Ippei Mizuhara’s career
Mizuhara gained notoriety as Major League Baseball player Shohei Ohtani’s interpreter, interpreting from Japanese to English and back for Ohtani’s interviews with the media and his contacts with teammates.
Because of his strong relationship with Ohtani, Mizuhara had become more well-liked among baseball fans. Oftentimes, he would help Ohtani in non-interpreting situations, like playing catch with him before games or watching his bullpen sessions. Mizuhara was Ohtani’s catcher in the 2021 MLB Home Run Derby.
Prior to this, he was an interpreter for Hideki Okajima of the Boston Red Sox and numerous Anglophone players of the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).
Ippei Mizuhara’s parents
Ippei Mizuhara’s father’s name is Hidemasa who is a chef. Not much is known about his personal life.
Ippei Mizuhara’s wife
Ippei Mizuhara got married in 2018 and while the name of his wife isn’t known, he had spoken about Shohei’s gift for him saying, “I got married last year, and Shohei gave us a wedding present when the three of us had a dinner after the end of the last season—that was a travel gift certificate covering our entire honeymoon.
“I’m not sure my wife and I have enough time to honeymoon during this offseason, but we’re really touched by his gesture. He also gave us a surprise celebration for our marriage, during the flight from Tokyo to LA last year.”
Shohei Ohtani talks about his rehab and gaming with teammates; and Ippei Mizuhara (his interpreter) talks about Shohei
byu/Cantab_yokohama inbaseball
Ippei Mizuhara’s salary
Mizuhara told ESPN that he was paid between $300,000 and $500,000, annually.