Shohei Ohtani's former interpreter Ippei Mizuhara sent a letter to Judge John W. Holcomb asking for leniency in his sentence and outlining the reasons for his gambling problem.
Mizuhara stole almost $17 million of Otani's money to pay off gambling debts, thereby committing bank fraud and tax fraud.
Federal prosecutors asked for a 57-month prison sentence, but also asked Mizuhara to pay $16.9 million in restitution to Otani and an additional $1.1 million to the IRS.
For more sports coverage on foxnews.com, click here
The Los Angeles Dodgers designated batter Hei Ya (17) with the Chicago White Sox and translator Ippei Mizuhara during a spring training baseball game at Camelback Ranch Glendale. (Mark J. Rebilas-Usa Today Sports)
Mizuhara asked for 18 months in prison, revealing the factors in his life that led him to gamble in his letter obtained by The Athletic.
Mizuhara said that since becoming Otani's interpreter/manager in late 2017, he has sacrificed his life and the lives of his family.
“Typically, when Japanese baseball players move to the United States, they bring multiple staff members with them to handle various tasks, including drivers, trainers, chefs, and off-field interpreters/support members. He was the only one,” Mizuhara said in the letter.
“Naturally, I had to support him with most of the above tasks. I drove him where he needed to go, went on frequent grocery runs, and was there when he needed me. I felt like I was calling 24/7 as I ran some random errands.
Dodgers star impersonating Shohei Ohtani's former interpreter pushes through 6-digit wire transfer, audio reveals
Los Angeles Dodgers translator Ippei Mizuhara specified the batter's shoes during his introductory press conference at Dodger Stadium. (Kirby Lee-Usa Today Sports)
Mizuhara said the busy baseball schedule, coupled with the international time difference dealing with Otani's management team in Japan, keeps him on the phone late into the night and causes him to lose sleep.
Mizuhara said the offseason is more difficult than the baseball season because of Otani's demanding schedule.
“The off-season was much more difficult, both physically and mentally. Shohei trained five to six times a week. I booked the facilities, set up and cleaned all the practice equipment, and filmed all the exercises. and tracking, his training partner (all of the off-season training and since it was just me) driving him back and forth and passing all this on to the Angels and his personal pitching/hitting/rehabilitation people. I will tell you.”
“I also do grocery shopping, check his mailbox, fix his bike, accompany him to visit family, visit his family, take his dog to the vet and groomer, etc.” Go and run daily errands such as dropping off his dog and picking him up, dinner with buddies, attending his wedding premise and meetings, etc. while I wait in the car. We will help you coordinate the lawyers in Japan and the United States.”
In addition to these tasks, Mizuhara said he was responsible for communicating with advocacy and brokerage firms to set up commercial shoots for Ohatani. These shoots occurred once a week in between off-season training, leaving Mizuhara with some time off.
Shohei Ohtani's former interpreter Ippei Mizuhara agrees to plead guilty to Federal Bank.
Los Angeles Dodgers player Shohai Otani (right) and interpreter Ipei Mizuhara attend the game between the Los Angeles Rams and New Orleans Saints at Sofi Stadium. (Kirby Lee-Usa Today Sports)
Mizuhara said that with all the work he was doing for Otani, he felt severely underpaid. Mizuhara said the Angels paid him $85,000 in 2018, $87,000 from 2019 to 2021, $99,611.16 in 2022 and $250,000 in 2023. However, Otani paid him about $11,000 a year.
“I felt like I was being grossly underpaid, but I was afraid to speak up for myself because I was on a one-year contract every year. And I didn't want to upset them and I was fired. I didn’t want to risk being exposed,” Mizuhara said.
Japanese genius Sasaki says he wants to try 'American hamburger' after signing with Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers player Shohai Otani (left) and interpreter Ipei Mizuhara (right) pose with Los Angeles Rams mascot Lampage (center) at SoFi Stadium. (Kirby Lee-Usa Today Sports)
Another challenge working with Otani was that Mizuhara had to live close to Otani.
“All these extra expenses were taking a toll on me. I was living paycheck to paycheck. There were months I had to borrow money from family and friends.”
Mizuhara said there are opportunities to help yourself financially, such as appearing financially, such as writing books, doing TV/radio interviews, appearing in TV commercials, etc. It helped me financially, but they were all shut down by Shohei and his company in Japan.
He said the high demands of his job, his inability to earn money for himself on the side, made him see gambling as an opportunity to help himself financially.
Click here to get the Fox News app
The Los Angeles Dodgers designated the big man designation as translator Ippei Mizuhara in the dugout against the San Francisco Giants during a spring training baseball game at Camelback Ranch Glendale. (Mark J. Rebilas-Usa Today Sports)
“Before I knew it, my gambling debt had grown so much that I couldn't find a way to pay it back, but by using Shohei money,” Mizharara said. Said. “I felt terribly guilty putting my hands on his money, but at the time it seemed like the only solution.”
Mizuhara now only hopes that Judge Holcomb can find sympathy for him in his sentencing.
Follow sports coverage on X on Fox News Digital and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle Newsletter.
