The ESP Guitar Company

“Gambling addiction Otani explained, “I didn’t know.”

It was revealed that Ippei Mizuhara (40), who was known as Shohei Ohtani (30, LA Dodgers, photo)'s 'shadow interpreter', had been stealing $4.5 million (approximately 6 billion won) of Ohtani's money for illegal sports betting. Mizuhara has been in a relationship with Ohtani since his days in Nippon Ham, a Japanese professional baseball team, and stayed by Ohtani's side during the opening game of the 2024 American Professional Baseball Major League (MLB) held at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on the 20th.

According to the Los Angeles Times on the 21st, Otani's legal representatives filed a complaint against Mizuhara, saying, "A large amount of money was stolen." The Dodgers fired Mizuhara that day.

Mizuhara has been gambling on sports at illegal businesses in California since 2021. Then, as his gambling debts grew, he got his hands on Otani's money. When Otani's account was discovered during the investigation of this company, Mizuhara was eventually caught as federal authorities demanded an explanation from Otani. Mizuhara initially claimed, “Ohtani lent me the money because he knew I was addicted to gambling,” but eventually confessed, “Ohtani knew nothing about it.” 토토