Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani is taking legal action to recover hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of baseball cards, alleging they were fraudulently purchased by his former interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, using his money. Ohtani has filed a lawsuit demanding the return of the cards, along with collectible items featuring his autograph, which he claims were unlawfully obtained by Mizuhara.
According to court documents filed on Tuesday, Ohtani is seeking $325,000 worth of baseball cards that Mizuhara allegedly bought using funds misappropriated from the star athlete’s bank account. The legal filing reveals that Mizuhara, who was once a trusted confidant and interpreter for Ohtani, used his position to access Ohtani’s bank accounts as early as November 2021.
Mizuhara reportedly altered Ohtani’s account security settings, allowing him to impersonate the player and authorize fraudulent wire transfers. By 2024, these unauthorized transactions had been used to purchase a collection of baseball cards from online platforms like eBay and Whatnot.
Mizuhara’s lawyer, Michael G. Freedman, has declined to comment on the filing, leaving many questions unanswered about the ongoing dispute between the two former close associates.
Mizuhara pleaded guilty in June to a broader array of charges, admitting to embezzling millions from Ohtani’s Arizona-based bank account. The funds were allegedly used to cover Mizuhara’s escalating gambling debts with an illegal bookmaker, pay for his medical expenses, and buy the $325,000 worth of baseball cards.
RELATED: Shohei Ohtani Sets New Record with Latest Unanimous MVP Award
Prosecutors indicated that Mizuhara had a severe gambling problem, betting tens of millions of dollars on international soccer, NBA, NFL, and college football games. Notably, Mizuhara never wagered on baseball, avoiding direct conflicts of interest in Ohtani’s sport.
Mizuhara is scheduled to be sentenced in January after pleading guilty to one count of bank fraud and one count of subscribing to a false tax return. These charges carry a potential sentence of over 30 years in federal prison.
Additionally, Mizuhara may be required to pay restitution to Ohtani totaling nearly $17 million, along with over $1 million to the IRS. Given his status as a legal permanent resident of the United States, he also faces possible deportation to Japan as a result of his conviction.
The betrayal by Mizuhara, who had been a crucial figure in Ohtani’s career, has shocked many in the baseball community. Mizuhara was not just an interpreter but also Ohtani’s friend and confidant, standing by his side during pivotal moments in the Japanese star’s rise to fame.
He was with Ohtani during his unforgettable participation in the Home Run Derby at the 2021 All-Star Game, celebrated his two American League MVP awards, and witnessed Ohtani’s groundbreaking $700 million, 10-year contract with the Dodgers.
Mizuhara even made headlines when he resigned from the Los Angeles Angels during the MLB lockout in 2021 just to continue speaking to Ohtani, eventually rejoining the team once an agreement was reached.
Off the field, Mizuhara and Ohtani shared a bond that extended beyond professional duties. Their wives reportedly socialized, and the two men became close friends. The trust between them, however, was shattered by Mizuhara’s secretive activities.
While standing beside Ohtani at some of the greatest moments of his career, Mizuhara was hiding his involvement in fraudulent schemes and illegal gambling, eventually leading to this shocking unraveling of their relationship.
The timing of the lawsuit comes as Ohtani is riding a wave of success. Earlier this year, Ohtani and the Dodgers clinched the World Series, and Ohtani earned his third Most Valuable Player award, further solidifying his legacy as one of baseball’s all-time greats.
However, even amid the heights of his professional success, Ohtani now faces the personal and financial fallout of Mizuhara’s betrayal, a legal battle that will unfold in the months ahead.
