Baseball phenom Shohei Ohtani aka ‘Shotime’ signed a whopping $700 million deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers. It was a dream come true for him as an athlete. However, off the field, something else was at play. The two-way phenom’s longtime interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, found himself embroiled in a shocking scandal. Their bond, once described as “Peanut Butter and Jelly” for its perfect fit, now is in shambles. 

Amid allegations of gambling debts, conflicting stories, and a trail of broken trust lies Ohtani. Has his big move been jeopardized already? What started as a story of a strong partnership unraveled into an unresolved web of questions. This is the story of a broken bond, friendship, and credibility. The impact it has left on the baseball superstar is an unfathomable one. Here’s how.

The first meeting: Shohei Ohtani chose Ippie Mizuhara as his interpreter 

For some context, Shohei Ohtani and Ippei Mizuhara’s bond began back in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball League. It was in the year 2013 that their paths crossed with the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters. Ohtani was a fresh face on the team, whereas Mizuhara had served as a translator for English-speaking players back then. Reportedly, this is where they first met and the scope of working together came to be.

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Their professional bond blossomed further when Ohtani signed with the Los Angeles Angels in Major League Baseball in 2017. The 29-year-old particularly requested Mizuhara san as his interpreter, which further intensified their partnership. As the two worked closely and traveled together for baseball, their relationship transcended the game.

Soon enough, it blossomed into a trusted friendship. This tight association even earned them a nickname from a former manager – “Peanut Butter and Jelly”. After all, the two symbolized how well-matched they were.  

Same clubhouse in the MLB: Ippie Mizuhara becomes Shohei Ohtani’s voice again

The 2024 MLB season brought a sense of familiarity to Los Angeles Dodgers’ phenom Shohei Ohtani as he signed a mega-deal with them for $700 million. His trusted friend and interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, returned to his side after their successful professional partnership with the Los Angeles Angels between 2018 and 2023. 

As per MLB.com, Mizuhara initially served as a translator for the Nippon-Ham Fighters, which was the team Ohtani played for in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball League, from 2013 to 2017. The trust that existed between the two was evident when Ohtani specifically requested Mizuhara as his interpreter upon joining the Angels in 2018.

Having a familiar face by his side would have definitely helped him transition to the foreign platform of MLB. Rightly so, their bond led to Ohtani’s smooth transition to American baseball and media. Up until recently, reunited in the Dodgers’ clubhouse, Mizuhara once again served as Ohtani’s voice. 

Stronger bonds: Shohei Ohtani put a clause for Ippie before the $700 million deal 

The 2x Unanimous MVP’s record-breaking $700 million contract with the Dodgers has gone beyond just staggering financial figures. According to a report by the Dodger Nation, Ohtani’s deal is inclusive of unique clauses that could largely impact his experience with the club. 

One particular clause speaks about the recent firing of Ohtani’s longtime interpreter, after their controversy broke out. The revelation of Mizuhara’s allegedly piling gambling debts and potential financial impropriety led to his firing recently. 

While the nuances and details of Ohtani’s contract have not been publicly discussed much, the report indicates that it includes a clause expecting the Dodgers to provide an interpreter for him. But, it doesn’t stipulate that this interpreter must be Mizuhara specifically. This only means Ohtani cannot break his contract primarily based on Mizuhara’s absence.

The report also underscores that more severe consequences for the Dodgers’ organization could likely allow Ohtani to terminate the contract. This relies on the departure of important figures like Andrew Friedman, President of Baseball Operations, and Mark Walter, Chairman of the Board. Such a change in the leadership might constitute a significant breach of the agreement Ohtani signed with the Dodgers’ current management structure.

On one hand the situation with Mizuhara is undoubtedly complex, it so seems that Ohtani is committed to his record-breaking contract with the Dodgers. The team is perhaps already on the lookout for a new interpreter to continue seamless communication. With that the focus remains unwavered towards Ohtani’s success on the field.

The fallout: Broken ties, trust and friendship 

The two-way phenom’s starry move to the Blue Crew was supposed to welcome in a new chapter of dominance on the field. On the contrary, the early days of the season have been tainted by a shocking scandal. His longtime interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara is at the core of it all. 

Allegations of gambling debts, financial impropriety, and contradicting public statements have broken the trust between Ohtani and Mizuhara into a million pieces. Now what’s left is only a trail of broken ties and unanswered questions in the thick of the controversy. 

It all began began with reports of suspicious wire transfers from Ohtani’s accounts. Ohtani’s legal team quickly stepped in stating that Mizuhara had stolen ‘millions of dollars’ and introduced a narrative of a gambling habit. The interpreter initially claimed Ohtani was aware of the debts and had helped get rid of them. However, this storyline quickly took a different turn. 

Ohtani’s representatives distanced him from the situation, mentioning that Ohtani was actually the ‘victim of theft’. Further investigations revealed discrepancies in Mizuhara’s past. Turns out he had inaccurate claims of educational credentials he did not possess.

Major League Baseball and the IRS launched their own investigations, adding another layer of confusion to the unfolding drama. Meantime, the Dodgers, caught in the wildfire, confirmed Mizuhara’s firing while they accumulated information.

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The fallout from this scandal is not just about financial losses. Ohtani and Mizuhara’s long-standing friendship has been left in tatters. The trust and reliance Ohtani placed on Mizuhara as his interpreter and confidant seem irreparably broken. This not only creates a personal challenge for Ohtani but also leaves him in a cloud of uncertainty regarding navigating the American baseball world without a trusted translator by his side. This fiasco has left a bitter taste in everyone’s mouths.