With the expansion of players into America’s Major League Baseball, many of the players require bringing along translators.

One of the most high profile players – Japan’s Shohei Ohtani found himself unwantingly in the headlines when it was revealed that his translator Ippei Mizuhara was charged with embezzlement and band fraud.  Mizuhara stole $17 million from Ohtani’s bank account.

Mizuhara pled guilty to the charges and on February 6, 2025 he was sentenced in federal court to four years and nine months in prison plus an additional three years of supervision after his release and a restitution of $18 million – the $17 million he took from Shohei Ohtani and $1 million to the Internal Revenue Service.

Mizuhara has been ordered to report to prison by March 24.

U.S. District Judge John W. Holcomb noted that most people don’t make $17 million in their lifetime adding, “the magnitude of the theft – $17 million – in my view, is shockingly high. I hope that Mr. Mizuhara will be able to repay that sum.”

Mizuhara admitted to using the money to pay gambling debts and to his bookie.

While he was not directly involved in the case, Los Angles Dodgers player Shoei Ohtani has been affected by the theft.  Prosecutors in court documents noted, “his years-long theft of funds from Mr. Ohtani and the myriad lies he told to Mr. Ohtani’s agents and financial advisors to cover up his theft represent a calculated betrayal of the very person he was hired to help.”

In a letter to the court Mizuhara wrote, “I am asking for a little mercy from the court concerning my sentence you will hand down.  I truly admire Shohei as a baseball player and a human being and I was committed to devote my life so Shohei can be the best version of himself on the field. I want to say I am truly sorry for violating his trust in me.”

While his betting included sporting events, Mizuhara never bet on baseball.

Mizuhara’s attorney Michael G. Freedman wrote in court filings that his client made a “terrible mistake” and has suffered the loss of his job and reputation; adding that Mizuhara takes responsibility for his actions.

Born in Japan, Mizuhara moved to California when he was just six years old.  He returned to Japan in 2013 to become the interpreter for the Japanese baseball team…and later Shohei Ohtani.