Mizuhara's Voice Heard: Full Ohtani Scandal Story

A new six-episode podcast series, "The Betrayal of Shohei Ohtani," features the only extensive on-record interview with Ippei Mizuhara. This interview, conducted in March 2024, occurred just hours before Shohei Ohtani became publicly embroiled in a scandal that led to his longtime interpreter's dismissal. The initial episodes detail events leading to Mizuhara's arrest and reveal original audio from his conversation with host Tisha Thompson.

Mizuhara's voice is a primary draw, offering his emotional account of the events. He admitted to lying and defrauding Ohtani, using Ohtani's bank account to wire over $40 million to an illegal bookmaking operation. Crucially, Major League Baseball and federal law enforcement have cleared Ohtani of any wrongdoing. Mizuhara pleaded guilty to defrauding Ohtani and was sentenced to 57 months in prison last February.

Matsuhara's account with the bookmaker involved over 19,000 wagers, with none placed on baseball. He emphatically stated Ohtani never placed bets and detested gambling. The series also revisits ESPN's initial reporting, which began with evidence of wire transfers from Ohtani's account to the bookmaker labeled as "loan."

Mizuhara's initial explanation suggested Ohtani agreed to help cover his debts, but this account changed rapidly. Ohtani reportedly learned of the transfers only when Mizuhara informed the Dodgers team. Mizuhara confessed to impersonating Ohtani on a phone call to access the funds, as detailed in a federal affidavit.

The legal proceedings have largely clarified the situation, with Mizuhara's admissions confirming Ohtani's innocence. Ohtani, now using a different interpreter, has largely remained silent on the matter outside of an initial statement expressing shock and denying any knowledge of the transfers or willfully sending money to the bookmaker.

While the first two episodes focus on the initial reporting and Mizuhara's interview, subsequent episodes will delve into the scandal's aftermath and its connection to the broader landscape of sports gambling. Future episodes are scheduled for release throughout July and early August 2026.