Ippei Mizuhara had life all figured out.
Somehow someway he attached himself to the hip of the greatest baseball player in the world.
Since 2017, Ippei joined forces with Shohei Ohtani to be his translator and best friend.
They became completely inseparable over the years.
Whatever Ohtani did, Ippei was there.
After Ohtani signed his mega deal with the Dodgers this offseason, Ippei was immediately hired by the Dodgers.
Dude had it made.
All he had to do was refrain from 1) murdering someone or 2) engage in illegal gambling.
Option two though, is a big no-no.
There’s nothing you’ve got the option to do these days in sports when gambling is involved.
If youre in pro sports in any fashion STAY AWAY FROM GAMBLING.
How he came to lose his job started with reporters asking questions about the wire transfers.
Thats at least what were being told to believe.
The Southern California illegal gambling ring that’s involved here is currently under investigation.
Once the wire transfers came to light, the reporters started digging in.
The developments this week came as federal investigators are examining the operation run by Southern California bookmaker Mathew Bowyer.
He was raking in anywhere from $300k-$500k a year just to be a great friend.
One of the greatest gigs in the world.
He was everywhere with Ohtani.
They’d even go over scouting reports together.
For christ’s sakes he was seen in the dugout during Game 1 this morning!
Is that getting the story straight or covering Shohei’s ass?
There already being multiple stories here is troubling.
Something is a little fishy there.
They added “loan” to the description field in the transactions.
“We had to add a description for the wire,” Mizuhara said.
“I think Matt [Bowyer] might have told me to just put ‘loan.’
You had to put something.”
“He didn’t want me to gamble it away,” Mizuhara said.
Mizuhara said he told Ohtani he would pay him back.
This story is fucking nuts.
Of all the people to get in trouble it’s Shohei’s innocent-looking best friend/translator/confidant/right hand man.
But is there more to this?
There HAS to be.
Is Ippei taking the hit for something bigger?
The multiple story aspect to this leaves a ton of holes.
I’m not making accusations of any kind, just simply asking questions.
So far Ippei has been adamant that baseball was not gambled on here.
He also was clear that Shohei was not the one betting.
Could you imagine if either of those statements are false though?
Day one of the baseball season and this drops?
Cant wait for Game 2 tomorrow!
