Shohei Ohtani is ‘more engaging with his teammates’ since the team fired his ‘buffer’ and long-time translator, says Dodgers manager Dave Roberts amid claims the interpreter stole $4.5m from slugger to cover gambling losses

Dodgers fans desperately searching for a silver lining to Shohei Ohtani’s ongoing gambling scandal were given exactly that by manager Dave Roberts on Tuesday in Anaheim.

‘Actually, I would argue that it’s going to help relationships internally,’ Roberts said ahead of his team’s final spring training game against Ohtani’s former club, the Angels.

Rodgers’ statement has some logic behind it.

Ohtani has heavily relied on his long-time friend and interpreter Ippei Mizuhara since first arriving in the Majors from Japan in 2017. But now that the Dodgers have fired Mizuhara amid claims he stole millions from Ohtani to cover gambling losses with an illegal California sportsbook, Roberts says his team’s new $700 million man is being forced to interact with teammates.

‘There’s no longer a buffer,’ Roberts said. ‘I’ve already seen it. The last couple days, I think Shohei’s been even more engaging with his teammates, and I think there’s only upside with that.’

Confusingly, by virtue of last week’s Seoul Series against the San Diego Padres in South Korea, the Dodgers were already 1-1 in the regular season entering Tuesday. And it was in Seoul where the scandal broke last week with ESPN reporting $4.5 million in suspicious wire transfers from Ohtani’s bank to the sportsbook, which is said to be under federal investigation.

Ohtani spokespeople first told ESPN that the 29-year-old slugger was covering Mizuhara’s extensive gambling debts. Later, after ESPN spoke with Mizuhara about the allegations, Ohtani spokespeople disavowed the translator’s comments to the network, instead offering a statement from attorneys representing the two-time MVP.

Since then, Major League Baseball has announced its own investigation into the matter, while Ohtani read a statement to reporters in which he repeated his spokespeople’s claims against Mizuhara, while denying that he ever violated MLB rules by betting on baseball.

‘Just on a personal note, I’m very saddened and shocked that someone who I’ve trusted has done this,’ Ohtani began.

‘Obviously, today, there’s things that I’m limited in being able to talk about. I hope you understand. I do have a document in front of me that I will refer to that will detail what has happened.

‘I never bet on baseball or any other sports, or never have asked somebody to do it on my behalf, and I have never went through a bookmaker to bet on sports. Up until a couple of days ago, I didn’t know that this was happening. Just to go over the result. In conclusion, Ippei has been stealing money from my account and has told lies.’

Mizuhara was a fixture alongside Ohtani with the Angels.

The pair first met when Ohtani played for Japan’s Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters, where Mizuhara was serving as a translator for American players.

When Ohtani crossed the Pacific to join the Angels, thereby becoming baseball’s biggest two-way star since Babe Ruth, Mizuhara came with him and was promptly hired by the club in Anaheim.

And Mizuhara was more than just an interpreter. He handled Ohtani’s schedule, managed his scouting reports on opposing players, handled records on Ohtani’s workouts, and also worked as a throwing partner at times, according to ESPN.

Perhaps most importantly, Ohtani relied on Mizuhara to be his intermediary with coaches even as the Japanese star’s English improved.

Roberts, however, is unconcerned.

‘I think he’s very capable,’ Roberts said. ‘He’s been around long enough. It’s just naturally going to happen, but if he needs assistance or support, he has it.’

Teammates say Ohtani understands English but is not always comfortable speaking the language.

The Dodgers have hired Will Ireton to replace Mizuhara as Ohtani’s interpreter, but Roberts envisions his star slugger’s communication improving.

‘I think that we’re all going to be surprised how much English he knows, and I think that’s a good thing,’ Roberts said.