Shohei Ohtani ‘deletes ALL Instagram posts of fired interpreter Ippei Mizuhara’ as the Dodgers star distances himself from friend amid bombshell gambling probe into alleged $4.5m wire transfers

Shohei Ohtani appears to have continued to cut ties with friend and interpreter Ippei Mizuhara amid an investigation into his alleged gambling activities.

Mizuhara, Ohtani’s longtime interpreter, was fired by the Los Angeles Dodgers amid questions about at least $4.5 million in suspicious wire transfers from the pitcher’s bank to a California gambling operation that ESPN reports is under federal investigation .

The Japanese two-way star now appears to have made attempts to further distance himself from his former interpreter.

The Dodgers’ $700 million man has deleted his Instagram profile of all photos of Mizuhara, according to the leading Japanese sports website: Nikkan Sports.

The outlet reports that there have been several messages involving Mizuhara, including a recording of the interpreter with Ohtani’s former Angels teammate Mike Trout during his time on the other side of Los Angeles.

The interpreter was fired by the Los Angeles Dodgers amid questions about at least $4.5 million in suspicious wire transfers from the pitcher’s bank to a California gambling operation.

Saturday morning, there appeared to be no trace of Mizuhara on Ohtani’s social media platform.

Mizuhara had worked with Ohtani for years and was constantly present with him in Major League clubhouses. When Ohtani left the Los Angeles Angels in December, the Dodgers also hired Mizuhara.

Mizuhara’s removal from social media comes less than 24 hours after MLB announced it had launched an investigation into his activities.

According to the Los Angeles TimesOhtani’s name appeared in an investigation by federal investigators of Southern California bookmaker Mathew Bowyer, which led his lawyers to Mizuhara.

It is alleged that wire transfers worth a reported $4.5 million were sent from Ohtani’s account to someone working on Bowyer’s behalf.

Ohtani’s spokespeople were the first to say this ESPN Tuesday that the 29-year-old slugger covered Mizuhara’s extensive gambling debts. Later, after ESPN spoke to Mizuhara about the allegations, Ohtani’s spokespeople dismissed the translator’s comments to the network, instead offering a statement from lawyers representing the two-time MVP.

“While responding to recent media inquiries, we learned that Shohei has been the victim of a grand theft, and we are turning the matter over to authorities,” said the statement from Ohtani’s law firm, Berk Brettler LLP.

The statement did not specifically accuse Mizuhara of theft, but the The Los Angeles Times reports this that the interpreter is accused of taking millions from Ohtani. Meanwhile, ESPN reports that Mizuhara’s debt totaled at least $4.5 million.

Mizuhara had worked with Ohtani for years and was constantly present with him

ESPN revealed on Friday that they had been following a tip for months before finally being able to ask questions about it on Monday while Ohtani was with the Dodgers in South Korea.

The interpreter claimed he was unaware that Bowyer’s operation was illegal – and that his debt had risen to $4 million by early 2023. At that point, he said he went to Ohtani for help, explained his situation, and that Ohtani said he “wasn’t.” I wasn’t happy about it, but said he would help me.’

Mizuhara was asked whether Ohtani – who has spoken out against gambling – knew he was in debt to a bookmaker, to which the interpreter replied that Ohtani “had no idea whatsoever.”

After Ohtani sent the money, Mizuhara told ESPN that he promised he would eventually send his friend all the money back.

The Dodgers opened their season in Seoul – with a 5-2 victory over the Padres. After that game, Dodgers officials explained the situation to the clubhouse, saying Ohtani helped cover Mizuhara’s losses and that the story would quickly make its way to the press.

But Ohtani began questioning what was said and told his representatives that he did not recognize Mizuhara’s account of events.

Dodgers officials and Ohtani’s spokesman said they trusted Mizuhara to communicate with Ohtani as they handled the situation – and that Mizuhara did not tell Ohtani what was happening. On Wednesday, Ohtani claimed he discovered for the first time that money was missing from his account.

Ohtani’s attorneys subsequently released a statement to ESPN saying Shohei “had been the victim of a massive theft and we have contacted the authorities.” Mizuhara was fired shortly after the statement was released.

Mizuhara’s removal from social media comes after MLB announced it had launched an investigation

ESPN contacted Mizuhara again and he admitted to lying in his previous interview. He denied on the phone that he is represented by Ohtani’s people, that he is not paid to say this and that he has not made any appointments. He confirmed that he had lied to Shohei, but denied that he had bet on baseball.

When ESPN asked him, “Did you take the money from Shohei’s accounts without his knowledge?”, Mizuhara did not answer.

Ohtani’s spokespeople said Mizuhara was able to control the information passed to him through his position as translator – and that Ohtani had not realized what was happening until the post-match clubhouse meeting, when a new interpreter was appointed was turned on.

Ohtani’s representatives also said they have filed a complaint with law enforcement to open an investigation.