Los Angeles Dodgers two-way standout Shohei Ohtani has a legitimate argument as the greatest player in MLB history, and his five MVP trophies can do the arguing for him. However, the Japanese star found himself at the center of a sports gambling scandal in 2024 that resulted in his interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, being convicted of bank fraud for impersonating Ohtani to pay off gambling debts he owed to bookmaker Matthew Bowyer.
Mizuhara’s conviction saved the MLB the embarrassment of having an all-time great see his career and legacy overshadowed by gambling the same way Reds legend Pete Rose’s was. However, many fans and pundits remain convinced that Ohtani played a bigger role in the illicit gambling than has been indicated.
That speculation has resumed with ESPN’s recent dive into the entanglement for its The Betrayal of Shohei Ohtani two-part podcast, which came out on Monday. One preview clip, released on Saturday, highlights a paper trail back to Ohtani.
“I learn there is a paper trail that connects Shohei Ohtani to Matt Boyer. And I’ve tracked down a source who has that proof. But they’re nervous, and it takes weeks before the source agrees to show it to me. And they’re not going to make it easy. It’s the middle of the night,” investigative reporter Tisha Thompson says.
“I’m driving to meet my contact. I find them standing outside of a car in a parking lot waiting for me. I drop into the passenger seat. The contact hands me a cell phone and tells me the proof I want will appear on an encrypted app, and each image will disappear in 30 seconds. I can’t take pictures, but I can take notes.”
Thompson continues with a recount of what her source shared with her.
“According to the screenshots I just saw, Shohei Ohtani’s bank account sent wire transfers to Matt Boyer’s illegal bookmaking operation. I saw two of them, totaling $1 million. I’ve got it. The direct link between Shohei and the bookies’ operation. But before I can even begin to wrap my head around what I’ve seen, a source reaches out with new information and a new name.
“Ippei Mizuhara, Shohei’s interpreter for the past 6 years. The source tells me, Ippei is prepared to say he was the one gambling and that Shohei was paying his debts.”
The MLB league offices certainly took a collective breath of relief on Monday when the episodes came out, and ESPN shared a recording of Mizuhara impersonating Ohtani.
This is the actual recording of Ippei Mizuhara claiming to be Shohei Ohtani during a call to authorize a transfer of funds to Mathew Bowyer’s account.
Listen to the first two episodes of “The Betrayal of Shohei Ohtani” on July 28, wherever you get your podcasts 🎙️ pic.twitter.com/dwBgfIiZ7K
— ESPN (@espn) July 27, 2026
It seems astonishingly clear that Ohtani was a victim who was betrayed by one of the people he trusted most. It’s also clear that this story isn’t going away anytime soon, as much as the MLB may wish it to.
About Qwame Skinner
Qwame Skinner has loved both writing and sports his entire life. In addition to his sports coverage at Comeback Media, Qwame writes novels, and his debut; The First Casualty, an adult fantasy, is out now.