Shohei Ohtani’s Ex-Interpreter Begins Prison Sentence

The same day that Shohei Ohtani returned to the mound after nearly two years off from pitching, his ex-interpreter and close friend Ippei Mizuhara reported to federal prison to begin his sentence for defrauding the baseball megastar.

Mizuhara, 40, is set to serve five years in a low-security federal prison for bank and tax fraud charges related to a years-long scheme in which he impersonated and stole roughly $17 million from the 30-year-old Los Angeles Dodgers player, according to The Associated Press.

The former interpreter was sentenced in February after he admitted to stealing the millions from Ohtani, saying he was using the money to cover gambling debts he racked up over several years.

Federal investigators said there was no evidence Ohtani was aware of the ongoing scheme. PEOPLE previously reported that Mizuhara even impersonated Ohtani over the phone dozens of times during calls with the baseball player’s bank while wiring money from his account.

In January, Mizuhara submitted an apologetic letter to the court claiming he was experiencing financial hardship and battling a gambling addiction that he kept quiet from Ohtani and others. Mizuhara claimed he was only paid $2,500 a month by Ohtani from October to January and then $125 to $130 a month from February to September during the offseason.

“I was living paycheck to paycheck, I would have to borrow money from family and friends some months to make ends meet,” Mizuhara’s letter read.

The interpreter also apologized directly to Ohtani, whom he said he “truly admired as a baseball player and a human being.” “I was committed to devote my life so Shohei can be the best version of himself on the field,” Mizuhara wrote. “I want to say I am truly sorry for violating his trust in me.”

Ohtani and Mizuhara’s friendship was well-documented, as the interpreter was a near constant at the two-way player’s side throughout the first six seasons of his MLB career. In addition to interpreting Ohtani for reporters, teammates and coaches every day for the first six seasons of his MLB career.

Mizuhara was also there for many of Ohtani’s career accomplishments prior to last year’s World Series season. According to the AP, Mizuhara served as Ohtani’s catcher during the 2021 Home Run Derby and was at his side upon winning both of his American League MVP awards, as well as when he signed his record-breaking $700 million deal with the Dodgers.

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Perhaps the most prolific and mesmerizing baseball player of his generation, Ohtani has become a global attraction, from becoming a folklore hero in his native Japan and a once-in-a-lifetime player in the U.S. Being able to both pitch and hit, Ohtani has become the first player since Babe Ruth to do so simultaneously and at such a high level.

Ohtani has not pitched since the 2023 season, however, after suffering an ulnar collateral ligament tear in his shoulder. Then, after seemingly recovering from the injury, Ohtani tore his labrum in his left shoulder on an awkward slide during last year’s World Series. Monday marked his return to the mound, throwing one inning and eclipsing 100 mph on his tenth pitch of the evening.

“He never stops surprising me,” Ohtani’s teammate Max Muncy told ESPN after the game. “We’ll see how it progresses for him.”