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By Stephen Wade, Tong-Hyung Kim and Stefanie Dazio Associated Press
SEOUL, South Korea -- Shohei Ohtani's interpreter is being crimi- nally investigated by the IRS, and the attorney for his alleged bookmaker said Thursday that the ex-Los Ange- les Dodgers employee placed bets on international soccer -- but not base- ball.
The IRS confirmed Thursday that interpreter Ippei Mizuhara and Mathew Bowyer, the alleged illegal bookmaker, are under criminal in- vestigation through the agency's Los Angeles Field Office. IRS Criminal Investigation spokesperson Scott Vil- liard said he could not provide addi- tional details.
Mizuhara, 39, was fired by the Dodgers on Wednesday following reports from the Los Angeles Times
and ESPN about his alleged ties to an illegal bookmaker and debts well over $1 million. The news broke hours after Ohtani's anticipated debut with the Dodgers in South Korea, where Mizuhara was constantly by the $700 million megastar's side.
"In the course of responding to recent media inquiries, we discov- ered that Shohei has been the victim of a massive theft and we are turning the matter over to the authorities," Ohtani's law firm, Berk Brettler LLP, said in a statement Wednesday. The firm declined further comment the next day.
Sports gambling is illegal in Cali- fornia, even as 38 states and the Dis- trict of Columbia allow some form of it. The Associated Press was unable reach Mizuhara for comment. It was not clear if he had hired an attorney.
Diane Bass, Bowyer's attorney, told the AP that Mizuhara was plac-
ing bets with Bowyer on international soccer, but not baseball.
"Mr. Bowyer never had any con- tact with Shohei Ohtani, in-person, on the phone, in any way," she said Thursday. "The only person he had contact with was Ippei."
Bass confirmed the criminal in- vestigation into Bowyer and said his home was searched in October. No charges have been filed. Operating an unlicensed betting business is a federal crime.
"I have been in touch with the U.S. Attorney's Office, trying to re- solve the case," she said.
Mizuhara is a familiar face to baseball fans as Ohtani's constant companion, interpreting for him with the media and at other appear- ances since Ohtani came to the U.S. in 2017. He even served as Ohtani's catcher during the Home Run Derby at the 2021 All-Star Game. When
Ohtani left the Los Angeles Angels to sign a $700 million, 10-year con- tract with the Dodgers in December, the club also hired Mizuhara.
The team was in Seoul this week as Ohtani made his Dodgers debut, and Mizuhara was in Los Angeles' dugout Wednesday during its sea- son-opening win over San Diego. The pair seemed to operating busi- ness through the end of Wednesday's game. Mizuhara was not with the team Thursday.
The Dodgers said in a statement they were "aware of media reports and are gathering information.
"The team can confirm that inter- preter Ippei Mizuhara has been termi- nated," the statement said. "The team has no further comment at this time."
Ohtani was in the lineup for the second game of the series Thursday, hitting a single in the first inning as the Dodgers' designated hitter. The
Dodgers lost 15-11.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts
confirmed Mizuhara had a meeting with the team on Wednesday but declined to elaborate. He said he did not know Mizuhara's whereabouts and said a different interpreter was being used.
"Anything with that meeting, I can't comment," Roberts said, adding that "Shohei's ready. I know that he's preparing."
On Tuesday, Mizuhara told ESPN his bets were on international soccer, the NBA, the NFL and college foot- ball. MLB rules prohibit players and team employees from wagering -- even legally on baseball -- and also ban betting on other sports with ille- gal or offshore bookmakers.
"I never bet on baseball," Mizu- hara told ESPN. "That's 100%. I knew that rule … We have a meeting about that in spring training."