Shohei Ohtani Still Claims He's Innocent In Limited Press Conference On Betting, Interpreter Scandal

MLB superstar Shohei Ohtani delivered his first public comments on the scandal involving illegal betting and his former interpreter. 

In one of the more confusing sports scandals in recent history based on the shifting testimonies, Ohtani spoke to a room full of 50 reporters and stuck to his story of innocence on Monday. He said he was completely duped by Ippei Mizuhara, who is accused of having a gambling addiction and siphoning of funds from the baseball player's bank accounts.

Ohtani spoke with the media, without cameras present, using a prepared statement and restricted reporters from asking questions – and they obediently obliged. He added that his comments on the scandal are limited based on Major League Baseball's ongoing investigation into the claims.

LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 14: Shohei Ohtani, left, walks in with his translator Ippei Mizuhara before the Los Angeles Dodgers introduce Ohtani as the newest member of the team during a press conference at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles Thursday, Dec. 14, 2023.  The Dodgers signed Ohtani to a 10-year $700 million contract on a blockbuster free agency signing. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

Read: Is The Shohei Ohtani Gambling Story Believable? An Insider Perspective

"I never bet on baseball or any other sports and have never asked someone to do so on my behalf and have never bet through a bookmaker," Ohtani said, via an interim interpreter, on Monday. "Until a couple of days ago, I didn’t know this was happening. … Ippei has stolen money from my account and told lies."

The 29-year-old player who signed for 10 years and $700 million this offseason with the Dodgers stated that Mizuhara never spoke to him about an outstanding debt to the O.C. bookie, Matthew Bowyer, at the center of a federal investigation.

The longtime translator and associate of Shohei's allegedly spent $4.5 million in illegal bets in Southern California via the Orange County sports bookie. According to initial reports by ESPN's Tisha Thompson, based on a 90-minute telephone chat with Mizuhara, the interpreter sought $4.5 million from Ohtani to cover his gambling debt. Mizuhara told the outlet that Ohtani agreed to wire transfer the money to the bookie.

The number of wire transfers from Ohtani's personal funds to the bookie is estimated at eight or nine individual transfers. Mizuhara's initial comments detailed that Ohtani was aware of the money, but Shohei refuted the claim.

However, Mizuhara walked back his testimony a day later and shouldered the blame — raising even more suspicion around Shohei Ohtani's knowledge of the situation.

Ohtani added, "I didn't know that Ippei [Mizuhara] had a gambling addiction and was in debt. Obviously, I never agreed to pay off the debt or make payments to the bookmaker."

While Ohtani's alleged lack of involvement in the wire transfers poses more questions than answers, so has Mizuhara's history.

In the week following the breaking news of the illegal bookie and Ohtani, multiple reports emerged, noting that Ippei Mizuhara allegedly lied about elements of his background such as prior education and experience. 

Mizuhara's resume stated that the interpreter was a graduate of UC-Riverside, an hour east of Los Angeles, but the school provided no record of Mizuhara's attendance at the university. The interpreter's prior work, translating for ex-Red Sox player Hideki Okajima, was also unconfirmed.

"In conclusion, I want to say I have never bet on sports or used a bookmaker. I am beyond shocked. It’s really hard to verbalize how I’m feeling at this point. The season is gonna start so will let my lawyers handle matters from here on out," Ohtani told the room of L.A. reporters.

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