MLB Interpretor Sentenced to Nearly 5 Years in Prison
In a significant legal development, Ippei Mizuhara, the former interpreter and close friend of MLB star Shohei Ohtani, has been sentenced to 57 months in federal prison for embezzling nearly $17 million from Ohtani. The sentencing took place on February 6, 2025, in the Central District of California.
Mizuhara, 40, pleaded guilty in June 2024 to charges of bank fraud and filing a false tax return. He admitted to illicitly transferring substantial sums from Ohtani’s account to cover his own gambling debts and personal expenses, which included $325,000 worth of baseball cards.
In addition to the prison term, Mizuhara has been ordered to pay restitution that totals $18 million. This amount includes nearly $17 million to Ohtani and $1.1 million to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
Ohtani, who was unaware of Mizuhara’s actions, has been cleared of any wrongdoing, as the MLB conducted an investigation and confirmed that Ohtani was a victim in this case.
To make the situation even worse, Ohtani also has to go through the betrayal of what he thought was a close friend. Mizuhara’s close relationship with Ohtani, which extended beyond interpreting, made his betrayal particularly shocking. Their bond was well-known throughout the MLB, with Mizuhara often accompanying Ohtani during pregame warm-ups and bullpen sessions.
As Mizuhara begins his prison sentence, one can only feel for Ohtani and reflect on the fall from grace Mizuhara orchestrated with his actions. Going from a person who was considered a good friend and well-liked around the sport, to a thief and betrayer, is not only sad for those involved but for the sport as a whole.
