Theft in translation? Dodgers fire Shohei Ohtani's interpreter over gambling scandal
The Los Angeles Dodgers have fired Ippei Mizuhara. He gave conflicting accounts about paying large gambling debts, ESPN's Tisha Thompson tells NPR.
In an ordinary time, MLB superstar Shohei Ohtani's debut for the Los Angeles Dodgers would dominate sports headlines, as he brings a jaw-dropping array of talent onto the field. The Dodgers are even opening their 2024 season on a splashy trip to South Korea.
But Ohtani's performance on the field is competing for attention with another extraordinary story about him, one that centers on illegal gambling — and allegations that Ohtani's friend and longtime interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, drained millions of dollars from the player's bank accounts to cover bad bets.
The Dodgers have fired Mizuhara, a team representative told NPR on Thursday. The team refused to comment further, saying, "The Dodgers are aware
