Shohei Ohtani’s ex-interpretation begins imprisonment

The same day as Shohei Ohtani Returned to Haugen after almost two years free from pitching, reported his ex-interpretation and close friend Ippei Mizuhara to federal prison to begin his sentence for fraud baseball megas.

Mizuhara, 40, will serve five years in a federal imprisonment with low security for banking and tax fraud related to a year-long system where he mimics and stole about $ 17 million from the 30-year-old Los Angeles Dodgers player, according to Associated Press.

The former interpreter was sentenced in February after he admitted that he was a millions from Ohtani and said he used the money to cover gaming debt which he raised for several years.

Federal investigators said that there was no evidence that Ohtani was aware of the ongoing system. PEOPLE Previously reported That Mizuhara even mimics Ohtani over the phone’s dozens of times during conversations with the baseball player’s bank while led money from his account.

In January, Mizuhara left an apologetic letter to the court, claiming that he experienced financial difficulties and fought against a gambling addiction that he silenced from Ohtani and others. Mizuhara claimed that he was only paid $ 2500 per month by Ohtani from October to January and then $ 125 to $ 130 per month from February to September during the season.

“I lived paycheck to paycheck, I would have to borrow money from family and friends for a few months to end the meeting,” read Mizuhara’s letter.

The interpreter also apologizes directly to Ohtani, who he said he “really admired as a baseball player and a human being.” “I was committed to spending my life so that Shohei may be the best version of himself in the field,” Mizuhara wrote. “I want to say that I’m really sorry for breaking his trust in me.”

Ohtani and Mizuhara’s friendship were well documented, as the interpreter was almost constant on the two-way player’s side during the first six seasons of his MLB career. In addition to interpreting Ohtani for reporters, teammates and coaches every day during the first six seasons of their MLB career.

Mizuhara was also there for many of Ohtani’s career performance before last year’s World Series season. According to AP, Mizuhara served as Ohtanis Catcher during Derby 2021 Home Run and was by his side when he won both his American League MVP Awards, as well as when he signed his record -breaking agreement with $ 700 million with Dodgers.

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Perhaps the most productive and fascinating baseball player in his generation, Ohtani has become a global attraction, from becoming a folklore hero in his original Japan and once in life player in the United States who can both pitch and beat, Ohtani has become the first player since Babe Ruth to do so at the same time and at such a high level.

Ohtani has not beaten since the 2023 season, but after suffering an ulnar safety band’s toes in the shoulder. Then, after seemingly recovered from the injury, Ohtani tore his Labrum in his left shoulder on a difficult picture during last year’s World Series. Monday marked his return to Haugen, threw an inning and darkened 100 km / h at tonight’s tenth pitch.

“He never stops surprising me,” Ohtani’s teammate Max Muncy told ESPN after the match. “We’ll see how it develops for him.”