Otani's Former Coach "Angry... Can't Understand Agency Saying 'Didn't Know About 6 Billion Theft'"

"Otani Wants to Ask If Mizuhara Knew About Gambling"

Joe Maddon, former LA Angels manager and 'former mentor' of Shohei Ohtani (30), the superstar of the MLB's LA Dodgers, expressed anger over the interpreter gambling controversy.

On the 3rd (local time), Maddon told the American sports media The Athletic about Mizuhara Ippei, Ohtani's interpreter, "It is unimaginable that Mizuhara betrayed Ohtani's trust," adding, "(After learning about this) I was angry. I was instinctively angry."

Shohei Ohtani, a Japanese baseball star playing for the Los Angeles Dodgers in Major League Baseball (MLB), is seen holding a press conference at Dodger Stadium on the 25th of last month (local time), which was broadcast on TV. On this day, Ohtani stated that he was unaware of the interpreter's illegal gambling activities.
[Image source=AFP Yonhap News]

Mizuhara became embroiled in controversy after illegal gambling issues surfaced on the 21st of last month. Having served as Ohtani's interpreter for over seven years, he was found to have engaged in illegal sports gambling and transferred $4.5 million (approximately 6 billion KRW) to a gambling broker through Ohtani's account.

Recalling Ohtani's time with the Angels, Maddon said, "All interactions with Ohtani were conducted through Mizuhara," adding that Mizuhara was the link between Ohtani and himself. "I maintained a good relationship with him." Ohtani played for the Angels from 2018 until last year. Maddon also described the relationship between Ohtani and Mizuhara as 'best friends' and 'inseparable.'

When asked whether it was possible for Mizuhara to access Ohtani's bank account, Maddon responded that it could be possible. However, he expressed suspicion that Ohtani's agency was unaware of Mizuhara withdrawing $4.5 million over several months from Ohtani's account. He pointed out, "Regarding routine transactions, it might be difficult for the agency to know that Mizuhara accessed Ohtani's account," but added, "However, I cannot understand how the agency did not know about the theft of $4.5 million."

On the 21st of last month, at Gocheok Sky Dome in Guro-gu, Seoul, during the official opening game of the 2024 Major League Baseball (MLB) World Tour Seoul Series, Shohei Ohtani of the Dodgers is catching his breath in the dugout during the second game between the San Diego Padres and the LA Dodgers.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

When asked if there was anything he wanted to ask Ohtani, Maddon replied, "There is only one thing I am curious about," saying, "I want to ask if Ohtani knew about Mizuhara's gambling. If he did, I want to ask why he did not stop Mizuhara."

Meanwhile, Ohtani held a press conference on the 25th of last month, stating that he was unaware of Mizuhara's gambling and that he himself was never involved in illegal gambling. He said, "I am very sad and shocked that someone I trusted did such a thing."