In a scandal that reads more like a screenplay than standard MLB news, Ippei Mizuhara, the personal interpreter and day-to-day manager for two-way sensation Shohei Ohtani, has found himself at the center of a federal investigation that sounds like it could make baseball cards the least of anyone’s worries. The allegations? A whopping misappropriation of over $16 million from Ohtani’s accounts, ostensibly to splurge on a collection of baseball cards and settle some hefty gambling debts.
This intriguing tale starts with Mizuhara, who had been an integral piece of Ohtani’s transition to Major League Baseball in the U.S., assisting him with daily tasks and language barriers since 2018. However, behind the seams, it appears Mizuhara was playing a double game. According to federal prosecutors in a detailed 37-page complaint, Mizuhara engaged in bank fraud under the stealthy guise of the alias “Jay Min.” Through this identity, he went on a buying spree, acquiring roughly 1,000 baseball cards from renowned online platforms like eBay and Whatnot. The average cost per card? A not-so-modest $325.
The plot thickens as these transactions weren’t just any ordinary trades. Purchase parcels were cleverly sent, care of the Dodgers, to a clubhouse employee who was none the wiser, keeping the stash under wraps. These weren’t your run-of-the-mill baseball cards either. Among the high-value collectibles were cards of baseball biggies like Juan Soto and Yogi Berra, and peculiarly enough, of Shohei Ohtani himself. One might ponder the ethics of buying a client’s cards with their own money! Found in protective cases in Mizuhara’s vehicle, these cards are now part of a meticulous inventory undertaking by authorities, aimed at uncovering the full scope of this collection caper.
Beyond the cardboard cutouts of baseball legends, Mizuhara’s financial play extended into darker territories. His penchant for gambling was unveiled through an eye-watering revelation of approximately 19,000 placed bets resulting in a net loss of a staggering $40.7 million noted between late 2021 and early this year. It’s important to highlight, perhaps as a small relief, that none of these wagers were on Major League Baseball games, sparing another layer of scandal for the sport.
Mizuhara’s unraveling began with his role in assisting Ohtani to set up a bank account. Ohtani, then new to the U.S. and with limited English skills, relied heavily on Mizuhara, who, according to prosecutors, leveraged this dependency into an opportunity for deceit. Allegedly posing as Ohtani, Mizuhara authorized wire transfers to associates linked to his gambling activities, all unbeknownst to Ohtani. The betrayal strikes a sharp contrast to the professional duty and personal trust expected in Mizuhara’s role, turning this case into a stark tale of deception.
U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada has voiced strong condemnation of Mizuhara’s actions, commenting on the sheer scale and audacity of the fraud. As the legal gears grind in motion, Mizuhara is slated to make his initial court appearance in downtown Los Angeles, an event that will likely draw significant attention as more details are expected to surface.
While the legal proceedings will ascertain the extent of Mizuhara’s guilt and subsequent penalties, this scandal provides a cautionary backdrop about trust and betrayal in high-stakes environments like professional sports. For Ohtani, who has cooperated fully with law enforcement, this betrayal by someone so integral to his day-to-day life and career is undoubtedly a painful curveball, no pun intended.
As Mizuhara prepares for his day in court, the sports world watches closely, not just to see justice served but also to witness the fate of an elaborate collection of baseball cards that were amassed under dubious circumstances – a collection that unwittingly slides into the lore of sports memorabilia, marked not just by rarity and value but by scandal.
