A new job has come to disgraced MLB translator, Mizuhara Ippei.
Mizuhara, a longtime interpreter for Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani, pleaded guilty earlier this week to bank fraud and tax evasion, admitting to stealing nearly $17 million from Ohtani to pay off sports betting debts.
He was recently spotted making deliveries for Uber Eats in the Los Angeles area, according to photos obtained exclusively by The Washington Post.
The Mizuhara scandal has rocked MLB, given Ohtani’s status in the league and how close the two have been throughout the Japanese star’s career.
This was the first major gambling controversy to hit the league since gambling became legal in some states, but it wouldn’t be the last.
Ohtani was officially exonerated through MLB’s own investigation and Mizuhara’s guilty plea.
“Based on the thoroughness of the published federal investigation, the information MLB gathered, and the fact that the criminal complaint was resolved without contest, MLB considers Shohei Ohtani to be a victim of fraud,” MLB said in a statement. “And this matter has now been resolved.”
Ohtani hasn’t spoken much since the scandal came to light, but he did issue a statement of his own after pleading guilty.
“The completion of the investigation and my full admission of guilt marks a major closure for me and my family,” Otani said. “I am extremely grateful to the authorities for swiftly completing their thorough and effective investigation and for uncovering all evidence.”
“This has been a uniquely difficult time, so I’d like to especially thank my support team – my family, agent, distributor, attorneys, advisors and the entire Dodgers organization – who have shown constant support throughout this process.
“It’s time to close this chapter and move forward and focus on continuing to play and win games.”
Mizuhara’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for October 25th.
“I worked for Victim A and had access to his bank accounts and he had large gambling debts,” Mizuhara said in a statement. “I transferred money to his bank account.”
