Amidst Shohei Ohtani’s Ippei Mizuhara Crisis, Will the Dodgers Hire a New Interpreter for the Two-Way Star?

Just when things were going well, baseball has been hit with a bombshell situation. The Los Angeles Dodgers have released Shohei Ohtani‘s iconic interpreter Ippei Mizuhara. The bigger shock is the gambling and theft allegations surrounding the interpreter. Though Ohtani is playing in game 2 of the Seoul Series, chances are that things might not calm down anytime soon. With reports spreading like wildfire, many questions are being raised about Ohtani.

While investigations are going on, it can’t be forgotten that the superstar’s need for an interpreter extends beyond just the field. The Japanese phenom’s training, in-game communication, and almost every interaction require a 24/7 interpreter. So with Mizuhara gone, naturally the Dodgers have announced the appointment of another interpreter for Shotime.

As reported by Dodger Blue, the Dodgers’ skipper Dave Roberts conducted a press conference hours before the Seoul Series finale. While he didn’t specify Mizuhara’s statements during the clubhouse meeting, Roberts did inform that Will Ireton will succeed Mizuhara as Shohei Ohtani’s interpreter for now.

Fans remember Ireton from the time when he was the interpreter of Kenta Maeda during the pitcher’s stay with the Dodgers from 2016 to 2019. While Maeda left for the Minnesota Twins, Ireton remained in the Blue Crews clubhouse. The interpreter shifted to player development and baseball operations. While Ohtani will be affected by Mizuhara’s absence, even Yoshinobu Yamamoto will have to face some changes.

Apart from being the full-time interpreter of Ohtani, Mizuhara also handled in-game translating and communication for Yoshinobu Yamamoto. As of now – Will Ireton is set to take over those duties too. Whereas Yoshihiro Sonodo will remain Yamamoto’s interpreter for media interviews.

But that has raised an important question – what pushed the Dodgers to take such a drastic step?

Allegations affect Shohei Ohtani as Dodgers take a quick step

Mizuhara’s removal came in after the Los Angeles Times reported that a spokesperson of Shohei Ohtani alleged that the superstar had been a victim of a “massive theft.” Reports also revealed payments being made to a bookie from Ohtani’s account. With Ippei Mizuhara’s alleged gambling issues coming to the surface, the Dodgers were quick to remove him from the organization.

As MLB strictly prohibits its players from being part of any form of gambling, the allegations are deeply sensitive. With Ohtani’s name getting involved, a massive storm might ensue if things aren’t controlled soon. As a result, Mizuhara has found himself on the radar.

With the Dodgers treading their path carefully, the story is far from over. However, until then, it’s best not to speculate and rather see how everything pans out.

Read more: Shohei Ohtani’s Clash With Japanese Childhood Icon Ends in a Stalemate, Seoul Series Underway With Excitement