REVEALED: Shohei Ohtani was almost approached by his translator’s illegal bookie while walking his dog in Newport Beach as it emerges Ippei Mizuhara stole $16 million from the MLB star to cover up huge gambling debts

Shohei Ohtani was almost approached by his former translator’s illegal bookie while walking his dog in Newport Beach, California, to ask the Los Angeles Dodgers star for money.

Ohtani’s former Japanese translator, Ippei Mizuhara, was fired last month after his illegal gambling habits were exposed. It was also revealed in the evidence file that Mizuhara stole $16 million from Ohtani to cover his betting losses.

The near-confrontation reportedly took place in November 2023, before Ohtani switched California baseball teams and played for the Los Angeles Angels.

The name of the alleged illegal bookmaker is Matthew Bowyer and the evidence against him and Mizuhara has completely cleared Ohtani of any wrongdoing.

Ohtani’s dog is a Kooikerhondje, which has ties to Jack Russell terriers and Beagles, named Dekopin, which means to poke someone in the forehead in Japanese.

Ohtani poses for a photo with his dog after winning the American League MVP award

Ippei Mizuhara, 39, made a series of unauthorized transfers from Ohtani’s checking account between November 2021 and last January, the Justice Department said.

Ohtani is one of baseball’s biggest stars who joined the Dodgers last December in a record $700 million contract.

The combined bets of more than $180 million came from Mizuhara, with the former Ohtani performer losing about $41 million, according to prosecutors.

Mizuhara made 19,000 bets worth anywhere from $10 to $160,000, averaging about $12,800 per bet.

In 2018, Mizuhara accompanied Ohtani, who spoke no English at the time, to a bank in Arizona to open an account.

What was uncovered by federal investigators shows an abuse of power by Mizuhara beyond his duties as interpreter.

He describes Mizuhara as Ohtani’s manager and handler.

“Ohtani’s salary as a professional baseball player was deposited into this account and he never gave Mizuhara control of this account or any of his other financial accounts,” according to an affidavit in the ‘affair.

“Mizuhara allegedly told Ohtani’s U.S.-based financial professionals, none of whom spoke Japanese, that Ohtani had denied them access to the account,” the department added.

Former translator for Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani charged with bank fraud

Mizuhara is accused of stealing more than $16 million from the Japanese baseball star.

The complaint’s detailed contact information for Ohtani’s bank account was later changed to link to Mizuhara’s phone number and an anonymous email address belonging to Mizuhara, the affidavit states.

Mizuhara also allegedly falsely identified himself as Ohtani to trick bank employees into authorizing wire transfers.

Bank records of phone calls showed Mizuhara impersonating Ohtani while seeking to make wire transfers, according to the affidavit.

Ohtani’s elimination was considered murky before Wednesday, due to the amount of money Mizuhara allegedly bet.

Prosecutors have repeatedly said one of baseball’s best was just a victim in this situation.

The amount of money Mizuhara spent on gambling was also revealed, which was much higher than previously believed.

There was no evidence that Mizuhara bet on baseball despite the large amount placed on games of chance.

Major League Baseball’s gaming policy prohibits “any player, umpire, official or employee of a club or league” from betting on baseball or betting illegally on any other sport.

Players found guilty of gambling on games they participated in are subject to a lifetime ban from the sport, as in the case of Pete Rose.

If convicted of the bank fraud charges brought by prosecutors, Mizuhara could spend up to 30 years in prison.