Introducing 'The Betrayal of Shohei Ohtani'

Summary

Podcast Summary: 20/20 — Introducing 'The Betrayal of Shohei Ohtani'

Date: August 5, 2026
Produced by: ABC News, ESPN, and 30 for 30
Host: Tisha Thompson, with contributions from Tim Keown, David Purdom, and others
Focus: The shocking story behind Shohei Ohtani, Ippei Mizuhara, and one of the biggest scandals in sports history

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Overview

This special 20/20 episode presents the first two episodes of “The Betrayal of Shohei Ohtani,” a true crime/investigative series by ESPN and 30 for 30. The series explores the unraveling of the close relationship between Japanese baseball superstar Shohei Ohtani and his longtime interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, as a sports betting and embezzlement scandal emerges. Investigative reporter Tisha Thompson takes listeners on a journey from Ohtani’s meteoric rise and spotless reputation to the shocking revelations that threatened his career and legacy, examining how trust can lead to betrayal in the high-stakes world of modern sports.

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Key Points & Discussion Segments

I. Shohei Ohtani: From Icon to Intrigue

Timestamp: 01:35–04:39

• Celebrated as a generational player, Ohtani is hailed as the greatest modern baseball talent, drawing comparisons to Babe Ruth.
• In November 2024, Ohtani wins the World Series with the Los Angeles Dodgers, capping off a landmark season.
• His on-field dominance is matched by marketability, with hundreds of millions in salary and endorsements:
  • “When I was there, I was shocked...you could literally not walk more than two blocks in Tokyo without seeing his face on something…” (Tim Keown, 20:53)
• The victory and Ohtani’s public image starkly contrast with news just months earlier of his entanglement in a criminal gambling investigation.

II. Origins of the Investigation

07:17–13:44

• Investigative reporter Tisha Thompson is tipped off about a federal investigation into a man named Matt Boyer, who is discovered to be a large-scale bookie with elite clientele—including a shockingly famous athlete, “O.”
• With caution, Thompson and her team begin cross-referencing information and consulting sports betting experts, aware of the powerful reputations and stakes involved.
  • “We have to be really careful…we needed to tread really carefully because it could turn into a very grown up version of that kid’s game telephone.” (Tisha Thompson, 09:06)

III. The Sports Gambling Black Market

13:44–16:25

• Interviews with ESPN’s David Purdom explain why illegal bookmaking is still prolific in California, despite legalization elsewhere: anonymity, credit lines, and the lure of discretion for high-profile clients.
  • “If you are an athlete betting with the DraftKings, there’s a chance that we could find it. But if you can be betting with this illegal sportsbook over here, I would not be able to know it.” (David Purdom, 14:06)
• Historical context: Major League Baseball’s zero tolerance for betting scandals, highlighting the Black Sox (1919) and Pete Rose’s lifetime ban (1989).

IV. Ohtani’s Private World

16:51–21:22

• Ohtani’s carefully guarded personal life is chronicled, with insights from ESPN’s Tim Keown about the star’s aversion to distractions and his extremely limited interactions with media.
• “He is the most guarded and protected athlete that I think I’ve ever been around.” (Tim Keown, 16:51)
• Even teammates and coaches are kept in the dark about major life events (“not only have I begun a new chapter in my career...I am now married.” Ohtani via Instagram, paraphrased 18:31).

V. Connection to Bookie and Paper Trail

22:03–25:11

• Focus shifts to David Fletcher, an Ohtani friend and poker enthusiast, who introduces new leads about Boyer. Fletcher confirms knowing Boyer but denies betting with him.
• Thompson describes the cloak-and-dagger process of confirming that wire transfers from a Shohei Ohtani bank account were sent to Boyer, totaling at least $1 million.
  • “September 14, 2023: $500,000…October 2, 2023: $500,000…Shohei Ohtani’s bank account sent wire transfers to Matt Boyer’s illegal bookmaking operation.” (Tisha Thompson, 24:03)

VI. Enter the Interpreter: Ippei Mizuhara

25:11–34:29

• A new source claims that it was Ippei Mizuhara, Ohtani’s interpreter and best friend, who made the bets, with Ohtani covering his debts.
• Ippei’s role in Ohtani’s life is described as all-encompassing—assistant, friend, teammate, and constant companion.
  • “To call him an interpreter is almost laughable…The only time that Shohei seemed to be by himself…was when he was in the batter’s box or on the mound.” (Tim Keown, 29:35)

VII. The Interview: Ippei Mizuhara’s Story

38:31–68:28

• In a rare, lengthy interview, Ippei admits to meeting Boyer at poker games, accumulating millions in gambling debt, and then asking Ohtani for help.
• Notable Exchange:
  • “I was in debt a little bit and stuff with my parents and some friends. And…the fact that he said he’s going to give me some credit, I felt like I had a chance to kind of make my money back…just got lured into the worst situation.” (Ippei Mizuhara, 41:34)
  • Ippei fiercely denies Ohtani’s involvement in gambling: “I can guarantee I put my life on the line that he’s never placed any sports bets ever in his life.” (Ippei Mizuhara, 52:45)
• Explains Ohtani paid off his debts directly to avoid temptation and didn't know Boyer was a bookie.
  • “We didn’t know that this is illegal…He didn’t want me to give the money to me, and he didn’t want me to try to gamble it off again.” (Ippei Mizuhara, 64:59)
• Thompson presses on whether Ippei is covering for Ohtani:
  • “People are going to wonder— is it Ohtani who did it and you’re taking the fall?... I want to give you a chance to respond.” (Tisha Thompson, 66:22)
  • “It was all me. And that’s 100% truth and all Shohei did was pay it all for me.” (Ippei Mizuhara, 66:37)

VIII. The Story Changes — Again

75:23–77:56

• Mere hours before publication, crisis shifts: Ohtani’s spokesperson calls Thompson, claiming Ohtani has just learned about the wire transfers and is a victim of theft by Ippei, not an accomplice.
• On a subsequent call, Ippei confesses to lying, denying Ohtani’s knowledge or involvement with the gambling debts or wire transfers.
  • “Did Shohei transfer funds to the bookmaking operation? No. Did Shohei know the funds were being transferred? No…Did you lie to Shohei? Yes.” (Ippei Mizuhara paraphrased, 77:23)

IX. Fallout and Unanswered Questions

79:36–81:07

• Dodgers fire Ippei as the scandal explodes across the sports world.
• Tim Keown and Glenn Washington raise the lingering doubts:
  • “You know where your money’s at. I know where my money’s at.” (Tim Keown, 80:52)
  • “Either Shohei was betrayed by his best friend or he threw his best friend under the bus.” (Tisha Thompson, 80:57)

X. Themes for Upcoming Episodes

81:07–End

• Season preview cites manipulation, trust, shock, and the global fallout—especially for the Dodgers, MLB, and Ohtani’s legions of fans worldwide.
• “It painted a really shocking picture of one person abusing the trust of another person.” (Ippei Mizuhara, 81:31)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Ohtani’s reputation:
  • “It’s really not hyperbole, guys, to say that Shohei Ohtani is the new Babe Ruth.” (Tim Keown, 03:36)
• On the dangers of sports betting:
  • “If they found out that he was betting on baseball, he would have been banned for life. And this is your biggest star banned for life.” (David Purdom, 16:14)
• On the Ohtani–Ippei relationship:
  • “He’s [Ohtani’s] best friend. We are like brothers. I mean, we’re with each other every day.” (Ippei Mizuhara, 50:03)
• On the moment of betrayal:
  • “Either Shohei was betrayed by his best friend, or he threw his best friend under the bus.” (Tisha Thompson, 80:57)
• On the magnitude of the case:
  • “I was shocked to see this person bet over 19,000 sports events.” (81:17)

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Timestamps for Crucial Segments

• Ohtani’s World Series Moment – 01:35
• Start of Investigation (Thompson’s Tip) – 07:17
• Sports Betting Culture Explained – 13:44
• Ohtani’s Private Life – 16:51
• Discovery of Wires (Paper Trail) – 24:03
• First Ippei Interview Segment – 38:31
• Ippei’s Confession on Debt and Relationship – 49:15–55:33
• On-the-record wire transfer roles – 54:58
• Dramatic Story “Flip”—Ohtani Victim Narrative Emerges – 75:23–77:56
• Scandal hits the news, Dodgers fire Ippei – 79:36
• Key reflections and season preview – 80:52–81:54

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Tone & Language

The hosts and interviewees maintain an investigative, urgent, and sometimes incredulous tone. Thompson, in particular, is careful, methodical, and measures both skepticism and empathy as the story evolves. Quotes are often raw and unguarded, especially from Ippei during his interview. The episode is gripping and reveals how quickly high-profile narratives can change—and how high the stakes are for everyone involved.

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For Listeners

This podcast is essential listening for anyone interested in sports, true crime, or stories of trust and betrayal at the highest levels. The reporting uncovers hidden worlds behind the celebrity façade, highlighting how the very relationships that propel stars to greatness can also become their undoing.

To continue the series, search for "The Betrayal of Shohei Ohtani" or "30 for 30 Podcasts" on your favorite platform.

Transcript

[Glenn Washington]

This show is sponsored by Murder in the Heartland, a podcast from I D. Murder in the Heartland explores real crimes across small town America, towns that might look a lot like your own. Every week, uncover shocking stories of murder and betrayal, from a suspicious hunting accident to a college student who disappears after her shift at the local bar. Hear from investigators, witnesses and family members as they share the chilling details behind each case. If you're interested in true crime with a small town twist, you might love this podcast. Listen to Murder in the Heartland wherever you get your podcasts.

[Podcast Advertiser/Host]

Hey, 2020 listeners. Today we've got something special for you from our colleagues at ESPN and 30 for 30. It's the first two episodes of a striking new crime series called the Betrayal of Shohei Ohtani. What happens when the person you trust most betrays you? That's the question at the heart of this new series. Japanese baseball superstar Shohei Ohtani and his interpreter Ippei Mizuhara were one of the most famous bromances in professional sports. They were seen together nearly all the time, labeled best friends until it all fell apart because of 19,000 bets, 17 million stolen, and the wild world of sports gambling. It's a story you might have heard about, but it turns out what was reported in the news was just the beginning. Today we're bringing you episodes one and two of this six episode season. If you want to listen to the rest, search 30 for 30 podcasts or the Betrayal of Shohei Ohtani wherever you listen to podcasts. Thank you for listening.

[Tisha Thompson]

The 2024 World Series champion Los Angeles

[Ippei Mizuhara]

Dodgers

[Tisha Thompson]

it's November 2024 and the Los Angeles Dodgers are in their home stadium celebrating their World Series win. The players line up on the podium. Team manager Dave Roberts takes the mic and introduces some of the stars. Let's hear it Friday. And then he calls out the name everyone's waiting for. Who wants to hear from Shohei Ohtani? Shohei Ohtani just finished his first season with the Dodgers. He's a head taller than a lot of his teammates and he's wearing a T shirt and backwards ball cap when he gives a shy grin as he takes the mic.

[Ippei Mizuhara]

This is so special for me.

[Tisha Thompson]

This is one of the first times that Shohei has spoken publicly in English without an interpreter.

[Ippei Mizuhara]

I'm so honored to be here and

[Glenn Washington]

to be part of his team.

[Ippei Mizuhara]

Congratulations Los Angeles.

[Tisha Thompson]

Thank you friends. That's all he said says and the crowd absolutely loves it. By any measure, SH's first season with the Dodgers was extraordinary.

[Ippei Mizuhara]

Here's a 2 1.

[Glenn Washington]

There's a drive. It's a sh.

[Ippei Mizuhara]

Otani arrives in October with a three run home run. Ohtani sets one in the air.

[Tisha Thompson]

Back it goes.

[Ippei Mizuhara]

Gone.

[Tisha Thompson]

One of a kind player, one of a kind season.

[Ippei Mizuhara]

Shohei ohtani starts the 5050 club.

[Tisha Thompson]

Many believe he could become the best baseball player of all time.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

It's really not hyperbole, guys, to say

[Tim Keown]

that Shohei Ohtani is the new Babe Ruth.

[Ippei Mizuhara]

Ohtani, right field, forget about it. A massive shot.

[Tim Keown]

Wow.

[Tisha Thompson]

It's the kind of success that helps overshadow what happened just months before at the start of this season when Shohei was caught up in a scandal that could have ended it all.

[Glenn Washington]

We're going to turn to the scandal. Rocky Major League Baseball. Shohei Ohtani is set to address the media today.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

The scandal has the potential to be one of the biggest sports scandals we've ever seen. Certainly one of the biggest baseball scandals

[Ippei Mizuhara]

that we've ever seen.

[Tisha Thompson]

Our team at ESPN broke the story. It tied the money of one of the highest paid players in baseball history to a vast illegal sports betting operation. But when it was over, he would walk away and someone else, someone close to him would confess to a shocking crime, disappearing in disgrace.

[Glenn Washington]

Joel o'.

[Ippei Mizuhara]

Donnell.

[Tisha Thompson]

And in this moment at the World Series celebration, you could almost forget it ever happened. Thank you, friends. But two years later, I still have so many questions. So I'm going to travel the country, chase down leads and try to understand how one of sports most complicated friendships detonated into one of the biggest scandals in baseball history. Here's the pitch to Ohtani.

[Ippei Mizuhara]

Shohi Otani, possibly the greatest player that's ever played the game. Generational talent. Federal investigation.

[Tisha Thompson]

Questions about wire transfer.

[Ippei Mizuhara]

$4.5 million to a Southern California bookmaker and he has no idea of it.

[Tisha Thompson]

I'm ESPN investigative reporter Tisha Thompson. From 30 for 30 podcasts, this is the betrayal of Shohei Ohtani. Episode one, the letter O.

[Glenn Washington]

I'm Glenn Washington, host of Snap Judgment, the award winning storytelling podcast from kqed. Every week Snap deals a new card. Like the girl whose sister was a monkey. Or the man who lived in the woods for 30 years. Or even the woman who snuck her lover out of prison in a dog crate. Pick a card, any card. Tap to listen. Now to Snap Judgment from KQED on Spotify. 1, 2, 1, 2, 3, 4.

[Tisha Thompson]

Give me a break, give me a break Break me off a piece of that Kit Kat Give me a break give me a break Break me off a piece of that Kit Kat bar that chocolate crispy taste gonna make your day and wherever you go, you'll hear the people say give me a break, give me a break Break me off a piece of that Kit Kat bar.

[Glenn Washington]

Have a break, have a Kit Kat. I wrote a little song to remind you. Choice hotels gets you more of the experiences you, you value. The Cambria Hotel's got it all. A rooftop bar. Have a ball. Cocktails up here feel just right. Is Cambria amazing? All right. Bring a date, your team, or even your mom. Book [e-mail] See you on the roof.

[Tisha Thompson]

I started working on this story a year before Shohei won that World Series when a source sent me a tip. At first, the tip seemed to have nothing to do with baseball or any sport. It was information from a federal court document still under seal. A list of items that had been seized from a house in California. It included the kinds of things you might expect from a federal raid. Computers, hard drives, and cell phones. But There were also $40,000 Breitling watches, handbags from Chanel, Hermes, Louis Vuitton, and casino chips. Lots and lots of casino chips. Why were the feds interested in it? Because all of these things were taken from a house owned by a man named Matt Boyer. The feds also seized a cash counting machine, sports betting records, and receipts for offshore bank wires. And that's when I say to myself, I think Matt Boyer is a bookie. A person who takes bets, pays them out when they win and collects when they lose. My source confirms it. Matt Boyer is a bookie, but he isn't just any bookie. According to my source, his clients include millionaires and seemingly one of the most famous athletes in the world. When my source tells me the name of that athlete, it's a name so big, so shocking, that all I write down is the letter O. You tell me the name of the athlete involved and that the feds are involved in an investigation. And that is why we have to be so careful. This is my editor, Elaine Tang. We're really worried about putting a rumor out there that then comes back to us as fact. We have to be really careful about going out and saying, like, hey, like, do you think is Shohei Ohtani gambling with a bookie? This tip was so potentially damning, we needed to tread really carefully because it could turn into a very grown up version of that kid's game telephone, where someone whispers something to someone and then they whisper it to someone else. And by the time it comes back to you, it's totally different from what you said. I couldn't just ask sources questions like hey, does Shohei gamble? Even if the answer was no, they might tell someone else in the clubhouse that ESPN was asking if Shohei gambled. And then that person says to someone else, hey, I heard Shohei gambles. By the time I call several someones later, that person then says to me, oh, yeah, I have heard he gambles. All I have done is confirm a rumor that I started, a rumor about Shohei Ohtani paying millions of dollars to an illegal bookie. I think it was the amount of money involved as well as the caliber of the athlete that feels really loaded and, you know, extremely damaging if true, right. To the athlete, their reputation, their career. It's a very serious allegation. I want to learn everything I can about what someone could get themselves into betting with a bookie. So I head to the sports betting epicenter of the country. We are in Las Vegas, baby. I'm in Las Vegas to meet with the reporter I think knows more about bookies and sports betting than anyone else in the business.

[David Purdom]

What do you think the biggest moneymaker is for the casino?

[Tisha Thompson]

Penny slot?

[David Purdom]

That's correct.

[Tisha Thompson]

This is ESPN's David Purdom. I met him in a casino just off the Vegas Strip. We sit down in a room near the sportsbook, watching as people place beds. Do they put the sports book in the back on purpose, make you walk

[Glenn Washington]

through all the machines?

[Tisha Thompson]

I wanted to talk to Purdom about the tip I received because he has a massive Rolodex of sources in the sports betting world. Had you ever heard of Matt Boyer before?

[David Purdom]

No, I had not never heard of him.

[Tisha Thompson]

We gave you Matt Boyer's name, and you called sources. You do the David Purdom magic and disappear for 12 hours and came back with info.

[David Purdom]

Right. I usually go to. You start with your guys that you know have had this, and when they didn't know, I had to expand. And I did and found some people that knew of him. And then when we found out that he was coming to Vegas a lot, I talked to people here, and they knew of him.

[Tisha Thompson]

A source warned Purdom that Boyer was connected to a man with a dangerous reputation, a guy named Owen Hansen, a former USC football player who became known as the Cocaine qb. When I got the original tip, Hansen was in prison for bookmaking and drug trafficking and was rumored to have ties to the cartel.

[David Purdom]

We had a source who was involved with running money for that group, and he was telling us, be careful. Right? Because Owen Hanson was not known as a good person. He was known as a violent person around the betting Community. And when there was ties to Boyer, there was concern.

[Tisha Thompson]

Over the next few weeks, we gathered more sources and confirmed Boyer was running a huge sports book operation in Southern California. Is California more prolific with bookies than other parts of the world?

[David Purdom]

Massive, massive bookmaking operations in California.

[Glenn Washington]

Why?

[David Purdom]

Because there's no legal sports bet.

[Tisha Thompson]

Sports betting is now legal in 39 states, plus Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico. Depending on where you live, you can place bets through a state licensed app, a website, or in a casino or a bar in those states. But unless you're betting on a horse race, sports betting in California is illegal. There is no legal way to place a sports bet there. Not on draftkings, not on fanduel, not in the tribal casinos. So if you live in California and you want to bet on sports, you either have to go somewhere like Vegas or. Or find a bookie, which is, of course, illegal. But there are many reasons why someone might want to use a bookie, even if the state they live in has legal sports betting. Purdem says a big reason is credit.

[David Purdom]

People want to bet on credit. You don't want to give over your cash. If you can bet on credit, huge advantage. I can just place my bet for $100 and my money never changes hands. You go down 1,000 bucks, the guy says, okay, let's meet up at the Waffle House. And you go there and you pass over an envelope, and that's how it's done.

[Tisha Thompson]

Another reason someone might seek out a bookie is anonymity.

[David Purdom]

If you are an athlete betting with the DraftKings, there's a chance that we could find it. But if you can be betting with this illegal sportsbook over here, I would not be able to know it.

[Tisha Thompson]

So Purdom says a celebrity who wants to bet discreetly might use a bookie. When I told him that Shohei Ohtani was the athlete, my source told me might be involved with Matt Boyer, I was stunned.

[David Purdom]

I remember when you relayed the message to me who the athlete was. I was like, oh, my gosh, I believe I cursed.

[Tisha Thompson]

Why is sports betting such a sensitive topic for Major League Baseball?

[David Purdom]

Well, you start with the Black Sox. Way back at the beginning of the century, the Chicago White Sox, several players of them got engaged with some criminals, and they allegedly agreed to throw a World series.

[Tisha Thompson]

Major League baseball banned eight players from the Chicago White Sox for life. And after that scandal, the league created a set of rules about betting on sports. It forbids players, coaches, and staff from using a bookie, and you may never bet on baseball.

[David Purdom]

So that was the big one. The next time you get some sort of betting scandal, it's Pete Rose.

[Ippei Mizuhara]

Number 4192 makes Pete Rose the all time Major League Baseball hit leader.

[David Purdom]

All time hits leader. He eventually admitted to betting on the game of baseball.

[Ippei Mizuhara]

I was wrong. I just stupid. Worst thing I ever did in my life.

[Tisha Thompson]

In 1989, MLB punished Pete Rose with a lifetime ban for betting on baseball. Pete Rose was one of the greatest ballplayers of his generation. He holds records that have never been broken. But all of his feats on the field have been overshadowed by what he did off the field. Could Shohei Ohtani, the greatest player of his generation, be the next Pete Rose?

[David Purdom]

If they were to have found out that he was betting on baseball, he would have been banned for life. And this is your biggest star banned for life.

[Tisha Thompson]

Part of what made the allegations so shocking was how Shohei Ohtani had a reputation for being squeaky clean before this. There's never been a whisper of a scandal attached to his name, which makes it all the more surprising to hear allegations that he might be tied to a bookie with dangerous connections. But we realized we don't actually know all that much about Shohei's life outside of baseball.

[Tim Keown]

He is the most guarded and protected athlete that I think I've ever been around.

[Tisha Thompson]

This is ESPN's Tim Keown. Tim specializes in writing profiles of the most famous and oftentimes controversial names in sports. People like Barry Bonds, Aaron Rodgers, Floyd Mayweather junior. Tim says he's been trying to decipher the enigma that is Shohei Ohtani ever, ever since he first arrived here in the United States.

[Tim Keown]

When he came here, I first started observing him, knowing that I was going to have to observe him to write about him rather than talk to him, because it was established early on that it was a dead end. He will only take questions about the game and very few, three, maybe four in each language. And these are in, like, bit questions. I want to know, like, you just threw 117 pitches. Are you. What do you feel today? And he would not. He just doesn't entertain those. He's just not built that way.

[Tisha Thompson]

Tim says most of what you know about Shohei is limited to what Shohei is willing to tell you. And it rarely leaves the realm of the ballpark. And when it does, it's on Shohei's terms. Like when he got married, people didn't even know Shohei was in a relationship until he posted about his wife on Instagram. He has lots of titles. Mvp, Gazillionaire, superstar, but husband had alluded him until now. And he made the announcement. Where else but on social media that reads, not only have I begun a new chapter in my career with the Dodgers, but I also have begun a new life with someone from my native country of Japan who is very special to me and I wanted everyone to

[Interviewer/Reporter]

know I am now married.

[Tisha Thompson]

Shohi's teammates and even Dodgers manager Dave Roberts didn't know about it.

[Ippei Mizuhara]

I felt like it was a good timing because it's before the season. I didn't want really any distractions once the season started.

[Tim Keown]

I think there is this, the sort of the aura, right? Like just leave him alone to do what he does. Because the distractions are not something he's interested in. He's not interested in. In talking to me. To be honest. He does it as an obligation. After he pitches, if he hits two home runs in a game, he'll stand there and answer questions in the most anodyne way possible.

[Tisha Thompson]

Are you nervous at all playing in

[Interviewer/Reporter]

the postseason for the first time?

[Podcast Advertiser/Host]

Nope.

[Tisha Thompson]

But the league, the teams and the fans don't seem to mind not knowing much about Shohei's life off the field. Because what's happening on the field is record breaking.

[Tim Keown]

He's really challenged our idea of limits because he has shown his talent to be limitless. He does the two things that excite baseball people more than anything else.

[Ippei Mizuhara]

Ohtani Dios.

[Tisha Thompson]

That's a called strike three.

[Tim Keown]

He can throw a baseball over 100 miles an hour and he can hit a ball 500ft up and over the roof. It's like the two headline acts of baseball. He is among the best in the world at both, if not the best. There goes Ohtani.

[Tisha Thompson]

It's a lead off home run after he struck out three at the top of the first.

[Tim Keown]

He is a dream for Major League Baseball.

[Tisha Thompson]

And the Dodgers rewarded him in the fall of 2023 with a record breaking contract. It is the announcement that took the baseball world by storm today.

[Tim Keown]

$700 million over 10 years.

[Glenn Washington]

Oh my goodness.

[Tisha Thompson]

Come on. One of the league's premier franchises made a historic bet on Shohei because they knew his success would be stood to make a lot of money too. Ticket sales, merchandise partnerships. Shohei's success could pay off big time for the Dodgers and MLB. Shohei himself makes more than $125 million in endorsements a year. With much of that money coming from advertisements in Japan.

[Tim Keown]

When I was there, I was shocked by. You could literally not walk more than two blocks in Tokyo without seeing his face on something, whether it was a green tea or a water sports drink or Hugo Boss or something. I mean, everywhere is Ohtani.

[Podcast Advertiser/Host]

After touching down in Tokyo, it's easy

[Tisha Thompson]

to see Ohtani mania is really a thing. Everyone in Japan is by default, a Shohei fan.

[Tim Keown]

The appetite for Ohtani, the love for Ohtani, appears to be as limitless as his talent.

[Tisha Thompson]

If Shohei's reputation takes a hit, it wouldn't just tarnish his name. It would have devastating consequences for the Dodgers, for Major League Baseball, and for Japan. When you were first told that Ohtani might be involved in some kind of betting scandal, what was your initial reaction?

[Tim Keown]

Shock. Shock combined with sort of a reassessment of everything I had seen leading up to that, plus another layer of, like, who knows?

[Tisha Thompson]

I'd been investigating this tip for two months when, in January 2024, a source tells me to look at a different player who may be a critical link. David Fletcher was an infielder for the Los Angeles Angels. He and Shohei played together for six seasons. And Tim tells me it was widely known that they were friends.

[Tim Keown]

They played bumper pool together, and they played Clash of Clans and was just this sort of, you know, buddy comedy. This little white guy and this big Japanese guy buddying around.

[Tisha Thompson]

Fletcher's social media shows he is an avid poker player.

[Tim Keown]

I don't think he broadcasts it, but I don't think he hit it.

[Tisha Thompson]

And his love of poker would end up being vital to our investigation. When I call him in January, Fletcher admits to me he knows Matt Boyer. They had golfed together, but he wouldn't call them friends. Fletcher tells me he heard that Boyer might be a bookie, but he insists he's never bet with Boyer. Worried about spreading a rumor, I don't ask if Boyer is Shohei's bookie. I don't ask anything about Shohei. By this point, I've developed more sources, and I learned there is a paper trail that connects Shohei Ohtani to Matt Boyer. And I've tracked down a source who has that proof. But they're nervous, and it takes weeks before the source agrees to show it to me. And they're not going to make it easy. It's the middle of the night. I'm driving to meet my contact. I find them standing outside of a car in a parking lot waiting for me. I drop into the passenger seat. The contact hands me a cell phone and tells me the proof I want will appear on an encrypted app and each image will disappear in 30 seconds. I can't take pictures, but I can take notes. I pull out my notebook and I tell my contact I'm ready. A document appears on the screen. September 14, 2023, $500,000. I spot the word loan and scribble it down in my notebook. But I don't have time to ask questions because the second document appears. October 2, 2023. $500,000. Both documents include the same long list of numbers on the screen. Later, after I drive away, I will stare at the jumble of letters and numbers I scribbled into my notebook. And I'll realize it's routing information. I just saw wire transfers from a bank account at bank of America, and there's a name attached to the account. Shohei Ohtani. According to the screenshots I just saw, Shohei Ohtani's bank account sent wire transfers to Matt Boyer's illegal bookmaking operation. I saw two of them totaling a million dollars. I've got it. The direct link between Shohei and the bookies operation. But before I can even begin to wrap my head around what I've seen, a source reaches out with new information and a new name.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

Interpreter.

[Ippei Mizuhara]

Ippei Mizuhara.

[Tisha Thompson]

Ippei Mizuhara, Shohei's interpreter for the past six years. The source tells me Ippei is prepared to say he was the one gambling and that Shohei was paying his debts.

[Glenn Washington]

I'm Glenn Washington, host of Snap Judgment, the award winning storytelling podcast from kqed. Every week, Snap deals a new card. Like the girl whose sister was a monkey. Or the man who lived in the woods for 30 years. Or even the woman who snuck her lover out of prison in a dog crate. Pick a card, any card. Tap to listen. Now to Snap Judgment from KQED on Spotify. There's the part of me that everyone sees. I'm Howie Mandel, the comedian. Apparently, I know what funny is. Funny bought me a house. But I also know what isn't funny. Ocd. I've lived with OCD my entire life, and people throw the term around like it's no big deal. But OCD is severe, often debilitating. It's a mental health condition that involves unrelented unwanted thoughts that can make you question your character, your beliefs, even your safety. General therapy can help with some things, but for ocd, it can actually make things worse. That's why I want to tell you about no CD, no CDC is the world's largest treatment provider for OCD and is covered by insurance for over 155 million Americans. Their licensed therapists specialize in ERP, the most effective treatment for OCD. If you think you might be struggling with OCD, go to nocd.com to book a free 15 minute call. They are here to help.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

Hey, it's Ryan Reynolds here from Mint Mobile.

[Ippei Mizuhara]

Now I was looking for fun ways

[Glenn Washington]

to tell you that Mint's offer of unlimited Premiere Premium Wireless for 15amonth is back. So I thought it would be fun if we made 15 bills, but it turns out that's very illegal. So there goes my big idea for the commercial. Give it a [e-mail] switch upfront payment

[Podcast Advertiser/Host]

of $45 for three months, $90 for six months or $80 for a 12 month plan required $15 per month equivalent taxes and fees Extra initial plan term only greater than 50 gigabytes me slow when network is busy see Terms.

[Tisha Thompson]

If there's someone we know even less about than Shohei Ohtani, it's Ippei Mizahara, Shohei's interpreter. His biography provided by the Los Angeles Angels says Ippei was born in Japan but grew up in Southern California. Before he joined the Angels, Ippei worked in Japan for the Nippon Ham Fighters baseball team as an interpreter for American players. And that's where he met Shohei. And when Shohei signed with the Angels In December of 2017, he brought IPPEI along with him as his interpreter.

[Ippei Mizuhara]

I want to talk about not why I joined Angels, but I want you guys to see me trying to adjust with the team throughout the spring training and maybe I think you guys will be find out why I chose the Angels, that it was the right choice.

[Tisha Thompson]

Ever since they arrived in the States, Shohei and Ippei are always together, with Ippei seemingly just a few steps behind Shohei at all times. And Ippei does a lot more than just translate. Ippei carries Shohei's gear. When Shohei needs a ride, Ippei drives him. When Shohei warms up for a game, he doesn't use a pitching coach. He throws to Ippei. When Shohei competed in the 2021 MLB Home Run Derby, he chose Ippei to be his catcher.

[Ippei Mizuhara]

What a fun moment that's gonna be for him.

[Tisha Thompson]

And hopefully he's not having to catch too much. Hopefully they walk red carpet together. Teammates and others have even wondered if the two men live together, but they've never confirmed it.

[Glenn Washington]

Your day in the life with with Shohei, I mean, what do you guys do throughout the day before you even get here to the ballpark?

[Ippei Mizuhara]

We'll eat breakfast every Day at the hotel, on the road, if not at

[Tim Keown]

home, then it's pretty much got to the point where, you know, I wondered, how could you spend that much time with one person?

[Tisha Thompson]

When my colleague Tim Kuhn began to watch Shohei and Ippei off the field, it was clear to him that Ippe was different from other interpreters.

[Tim Keown]

To call him an interpreter is almost laughable because that was almost the least important part of his job. And the. The routine was always the same where Shohei would walk out onto the field and Ippei was like two and a half to three steps behind. It was like a. Almost felt like a choreographed thing the way they went about it. The only time that Shohei seemed to be by himself, at least at the baseball field, was when he was in the batter's box or on the mound.

[Tisha Thompson]

They appeared to be extremely close.

[Tim Keown]

There was no Ippei without Shohei. It manifested itself in me by, like, going to players and saying, does it ever occur to you that these guys get sick of each other?

[Tisha Thompson]

The source told me they thought Ippei might be taking the fall for Shohei. But I didn't know what to think.

[Tim Keown]

The walls were so thick and so impenetrable that, I mean, anything seemed possible, right?

[Tisha Thompson]

We didn't quite know what to make of the Ippei connection. My editor Elaine and I spent weeks investigating the possibilities. Whether it was him himself, whether he was a cover for Ohtani, whether he was making the bets on Ohtani's behalf. We didn't know if it was a cover up. We didn't know the truth. But there are two people who we thought would know the truth. Shohei Ohtani and ippei Mizahara. By March 2024. I've been working on this for five months, and we've collected enough information to go to Shohei's agent. In an email, I tell him I have sources who have told us about Shohei Ohtani's involvement with Matt Boyer. I purposefully don't tell him that I know Matt Boyer is a bookie or that I've heard Ippe's name. I want to see what their response will be. Two hours later, I get a call from a publicist named Matt Hiltzik. He tells me he specializes in what's called crisis communication. And Shohei's agent has just brought him on to represent Shohei. Some of Hiltsig's clients have included Hillary Clinton and Ivanka Trump, Brad Pitt, Alec Baldwin and Johnny Depp. When I tell him about the wire transfers that I Saw. Hiltzik says he needs to call me back. As I wait, I wonder, will they try to deny it? Will they threaten us with defamation, or will they admit it? My phone rings again a few hours later. Hiltzik says, you're gonna get a really good story. You're gonna get the truth about what happened. And then he confirms it. It's true. Shohei's bank account wired millions of dollars to Boyer's operation. But he tells me someone else did the bets. Shohei was covering for someone else, he says, someone important to his life. I tell him I have sources that tell me it's Ipe. He says, you have good sources. I tell him I want to interview Shohei Ohtani. He says, maybe I have to see, but I can give you someone else.

[Ippei Mizuhara]

I'm Ippei Mizuhara. And you do have permission to record me.

[Tisha Thompson]

That's next on the Betrayal of Shohei Ohtani. Economists and bettors talk about something called the Black Swan. An event or a series of events that's so rare, so unpredictable, no one would bet on it. Happening March 19, 2024, was my black swan, because the story we had been working on for five months would suddenly change over the next 24 hours, twisting and turning in ways I could never have expected, and for reasons I'm still trying to understand. I had seen wire transfers that showed a bank account in Shohei Ohtani's name had wired millions to an illegal bookmaking operation. And Shohei's spokesperson confirmed it. But he told me that Shohei wasn't the one gambling. He says it was his interpreter, Ippei Mizahara. Shohei was just paying off Ippei's debts. And now Shohei's team has offered me an interview with someone they said would clear this all up.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

All right, I am. This is Tisha Thompson. I am recording this call. Go ahead and tell me who you are, and do I have permission to record you?

[Ippei Mizuhara]

Yes, Mom. I'm Ippei Mizuhara, and you do have permission to record me.

[Tisha Thompson]

I've never talked to Ippei before, but I instantly recognize his voice. It's the voice of Shohei Ohtani. Whenever Shohei talks to reporters in Japanese, it's Ippei who translates his words into English. I've been warned by ESPN's baseball reporters that Ippei doesn't say much. I'm not sure he'll give me anything more than a prepared statement, and I don't know how much time I'll get with him. But I've been investigating this story for five months. And I have a lot of questions about how Shohei and his money got tied up in all of this, what Ippei's role was. And I wonder if what Ippei tells me will hold up to my line of questioning. I reach Ippei in South Korea. He's in Seoul with the Los Angeles Dodgers, who are set to play the San Diego Padres in just a few hours. It's the opening game of the MLB season.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

All right, What I would like to do is have you tell me your story in your words.

[Ippei Mizuhara]

Oh, okay. Okay.

[Tisha Thompson]

Shohei Ohtani is about to play his first regular season game in a Dodgers jersey. And he will deliver. He'll get his first hit, his first steal, his first RBI for the Dodgers. But that will not be the top headline tomorrow because his interpreter is about to steal the show.

[Ippei Mizuhara]

Here's the pitch to Ohtani. Shohei Ohtani.

[Tisha Thompson]

I'm ESPN investigative reporter Tisha Thompson. From 30 for 30 podcasts, this is the betrayal of Shohei Ohtani. Episode two, the interview.

[Tim Keown]

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[Tisha Thompson]

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[Tisha Thompson]

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[Glenn Washington]

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[Ippei Mizuhara]

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[Tim Keown]

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[Tisha Thompson]

Firestone Complete Auto Care Call or go

[Tim Keown]

[e-mail] to book today.

[Glenn Washington]

I'm Glenn Washington, host of Snap Judgment, the award winning storytelling podcast from kqed. Every week, Snap deals a new card. Like the girl whose sister was a monkey. Or the man who lived in the woods for 30 years. Or. Or even the woman who snuck her lover out of prison in a dog crate. Pick a card, any card. Tap to listen. Now to Snap Judgment from KQED on Spotify. Bonjour, compadre.

[Tisha Thompson]

It's the Priceline negotiator.

[Glenn Washington]

How do I negotiate so many great travel deals? My greatest gadget, the Priceline app. It's got hotel deals, flight deals, rental car deals, all of those deals in a bunch of deals. Game day deals, concert trip deals. No one deals more deals than Priceline. Hold your horses, there's more. The app lets you filter hotels by neighborhood vibe, star level and amenities like pools and spas and beachfronts and. Wait, I'm not done. Stop cutting me off.

[Tisha Thompson]

I'm the only reporter Ippei ever spoke to about this story. It's now been more than Two years since we had this call. And every time I listen to it, I hear it differently when the interview starts. My first goal is to get an understanding of how the bookie at the center of this story, Matt Boyer, came into the picture. By now, I've confirmed that Boyer is under federal investigation. And the wire transfers I saw, the ones with Shohei's name on them, went to Boyer's operation.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

So what I'm going to do is start at what I think is the beginning. Can you tell me how you met Matt Boyer?

[Ippei Mizuhara]

Yes. So I met him at a local poker game. He knew I was sort of his interpreter, so he kind of approached me saying, like, he's, like a fan.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

Okay. Did he tell you what he did for a living?

[Ippei Mizuhara]

He told me that he has a sports book.

[Tisha Thompson]

A sports book is just a place that takes sports bets. It can be a brick and mortar building or an app or a website. Ippe tells me he'd bet in Las Vegas sportsbooks in the past, and he was betting once in a while on DraftKings. He says he didn't realize that Boyer's sportsbook was different, that it was illegal.

[Ippei Mizuhara]

I thought it was legal this whole time. Okay. And once I found out that there's a federal investigation going, which is two, three days ago, that's when I first found out, and I was pretty shocked to hear that.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

So when you started your account, did you have to give, like, a credit card or put some cash in or anything like that?

[Ippei Mizuhara]

No, he had a credit line. Okay. Set up for me.

[Tisha Thompson]

Ippei is telling me that when he logged onto his account with Boyer, there was already credit there for him to use. A legal sports book will never give gamblers credit up front. That's one of the main draws for any legal sports book. No money down.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

Did that raise a red flag for you?

[Ippei Mizuhara]

Unfortunately, it didn't have to find. Okay.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

What did you bet on? What were you betting on?

[Ippei Mizuhara]

Oh, I bet on. I bet on some football, basketball, soccer. Not baseball. I never been on baseball. Overseas, domestic, anything. That's 100%. I knew that. I knew that rule. You did?

[Interviewer/Reporter]

And that rule being? Which rule?

[Ippei Mizuhara]

Which rule not to bet on baseball.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

Who told you that?

[Ippei Mizuhara]

We have, like, a meeting about that in spring training. Okay. Pretty much the same. Don't bet on baseball ever. But it was okay to bet on other sports other than baseball, with my

[Tisha Thompson]

understanding this tracks with Major League Baseball's rules on sports betting. Players and team employees can bet on sports, but they may not bet on baseball, and they cannot use A bookie.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

Did anyone ever tell you that you couldn't use a bookmaker?

[Ippei Mizuhara]

I don't fully recall.

[Tisha Thompson]

But Ippe says once he met the bookie, he began to rack up millions of dollars in debt.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

Why were you doing this? What was it doing for you?

[Ippei Mizuhara]

Okay. Okay. So at the time, I couldn't share this with Johe, but it was hard for me to make like my ends meet. I was kind of going paycheck to paycheck because I kind of had to keep up with his lifestyle. But at the same time, I didn't want to tell him this. Obviously it ended up being the worst case scenario. I didn't want to go to help, I didn't want to go to him for help financially, stuff like that. So I was just trying to make ends meet on my side. And okay, I was in debt a little bit and stuff with my parents and some friends. And the time that start gambling because hard the fact that he said he's going to give me some credit, I felt like I had a chance to kind of make my money back and just go lower it into the worst situation.

[Tisha Thompson]

I'm wondering if this response might be rehearsed. It feels like a clean answer that just came pouring out of Ipe in one go. Before this, the most we had ever heard him speak was when he interpreted Shohei's words. He rarely ever spoke about himself.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

I'm curious. You were talking about how, you know, you couldn't keep up with Shohei's lifestyle and you didn't tell him that, but you couldn't do it. How much do you make each year?

[Ippei Mizuhara]

At the time, I was making about $85,000 a year.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

This is 2021ish.

[Ippei Mizuhara]

Yes.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

Okay. Did you start to make more than that over the next couple of months or years?

[Ippei Mizuhara]

Now with the Dodgers, I am making more money. And last year with the Angels, they gave me a pretty good raise.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

Okay. I have been told you make roughly $300,000.

[Ippei Mizuhara]

Is this gonna go out on the story?

[Interviewer/Reporter]

I've had someone tell me it's 300,000. If that is incorrect, I want to know.

[Ippei Mizuhara]

Okay, well, my new deal with the Dodgers, a little bit more than that.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

Okay. Is it more than $500,000?

[Ippei Mizuhara]

No. Okay.

[Tisha Thompson]

Back in 2021, with his $85,000 a year salary, Ippei says it was tough to make ends meet. So when Boyer Sportsbook offered him credit, he says it seemed like a chance to make some money.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

So did it go bad quickly or did you win some money?

[Ippei Mizuhara]

I never cast Out. I'm terrible. I'm never. I'm never going to do it ever again. I never want any money from there, really. And I just kept on losing, and I just kept on digging a deeper hole. Just couldn't get out of it.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

Did you tell anyone?

[Ippei Mizuhara]

No, I did not.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

Why?

[Ippei Mizuhara]

Mainly it was just embarrassing.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

Yeah.

[Ippei Mizuhara]

I mean, my wife doesn't even know about any of this until even right now.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

Okay.

[Ippei Mizuhara]

She's with us in Korea right now and she's like, having a great time with like, Soy's family. And my heart's just ripping apart every minute, like.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

Yeah.

[Ippei Mizuhara]

And she noticed that I'm like, weird acting weird and just can't, like, call her right now. It's gonna ruin the whole trip. And. Oh.

[Tisha Thompson]

Ippei pauses and another voice jumps into the conversation. His name is Matt Hiltzik. He's Shohei Ohtani's spokesperson. And he's been listening in on this call the whole time. When he speaks up here, he tells Ippei, we're all here for you and we're all going to help you. He says, we care about you as a person. As he continues to reassure Ippei, I wonder if he is talking to Ippei or if this speech is actually meant for me. Because the spokesperson was hired to protect Shohei and Shohei's reputation. He doesn't represent Ippei or Ippei's interests. He tells Ippei, we just want the truth. When he stops talking, I take my cue to continue.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

How much do you estimate you lost overall with Boyer's operation?

[Ippei Mizuhara]

That's one thing that I would like to keep disclosed as possible. I think it's really embarrassing if amount gets out, and if possible, I would like to keep it disclosed.

[Tisha Thompson]

I had seen the wires showing that Shohei Ohtani's bank account had sent money to the bookies operation. Multiple sources have told me at least $4.5 million left Shohei's account. But I've heard it could be a lot more. Maybe as much as $16 million.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

I have sourcing that says that Boyer's operation was paid at least $4.5 million. What is your response to that?

[Ippei Mizuhara]

I would say that is pretty accurate. Okay.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

Is it more than that?

[Ippei Mizuhara]

I don't think so.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

Okay. For people who have never been in this place, how do you get to four and a half million dollars? Is it because you keep hoping, for instance, that the next bet is going to bail you out? Or, you know, for someone who doesn't know what it's like, how do you get to four and a half million?

[Ippei Mizuhara]

I mean, I dug myself a hole and kept on getting bigger and. Which meant I had to bet bigger to get out of it and just kept on losing. It's like a snowball effect.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

How did you start paying him back?

[Ippei Mizuhara]

So that's when I had to go to SH for help.

[Tisha Thompson]

Ippei is about to explain why the money was coming from Shohei's bank account, even though Ippei is the one gambling. By 2023, IPPEI had racked up millions of dollars in debt. And to pay off those debts, he says he goes to Shohei.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

How did that go down?

[Ippei Mizuhara]

I explained my situation, what's going on and why I'm in this much of a debt. And obviously, I mean, he wasn't happy about it, but he said he would help me out, make sure, like, I never do this again. That's pretty much what happened. And he decided to pay it off for me.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

Did he offer or did you ask?

[Ippei Mizuhara]

I asked.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

How do you ask someone? I mean, it's been characterized to me that the two of you are best friends, that you were as close as brothers. You know, like, how would you characterize your relationship with him?

[Ippei Mizuhara]

He's best friends. We are like brothers. I mean, we're with each other every day.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

Yeah.

[Ippei Mizuhara]

Spend more time with him than my wife, probably.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

Yeah.

[Ippei Mizuhara]

Yeah. So, I mean, he is like a family to me.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

Yeah.

[Tisha Thompson]

Ippei and Shohei were always around each other. There seemed to be a genuine closeness between them. Tim saw it, others did, too. And now Ippei says they really are that close.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

Was it hard to come to him, or was it easy?

[Ippei Mizuhara]

Because you are extremely hard.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

Yeah.

[Ippei Mizuhara]

I didn't want. Like, that was the last thing I wanted to. I mean, initially I didn't want to go to him about making my ends meet him. This was on another level. So it was really, really difficult.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

Were you frightened?

[Ippei Mizuhara]

Yes.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

In that moment when you went to him, what were you afraid of?

[Ippei Mizuhara]

Afraid that. I mean, a lot of things. I mean, you know, trust that we built up. Afraid that might go away, he might think of me differently, stuff like that.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

Were you afraid for your safety or anything like that?

[Ippei Mizuhara]

Safety? I mean, yeah, I was, but I was. Because I was in that much debt. I didn't know, like, someone's gonna, like, come to my house one day. Yeah, I had those kind of thoughts too.

[Tisha Thompson]

I'm intrigued by Ippei's response. His initial fear is what his debt will do to his relationship with Shohei. But when I bring up his safety? He says yes, he was afraid. But he's told me he thought this was a legal sportsbook. So why would he be afraid? Legal sportsbooks don't come knocking at your door to collect their debts.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

So I would like to get into the specifics of what Shohei offered you. When you told him you were in trouble. You said you asked him for help. Did you ask him for money?

[Ippei Mizuhara]

I asked him if he could pay my debt off. You have some thoughts?

[Interviewer/Reporter]

Had he ever gambled himself, as far as you're aware?

[Ippei Mizuhara]

Gambled, ever? I can guarantee I put my life on the line that he's never placed any sports bets ever in this life.

[Tisha Thompson]

Ippei says Shohei would even talk about how much he disliked gambling.

[Ippei Mizuhara]

He thinks gambling is terrible, and obviously he doesn't need the money.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

How do you know he thinks gambling is terrible?

[Ippei Mizuhara]

He sees the. Like, people, like our teammates would be gambling all the time, and he'll be like, why are they doing this? My gambling is not good.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

When he would make comments like that, how would that make you feel internally?

[Ippei Mizuhara]

I'm terrible.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

Yeah. So that makes it even harder to go to him, I would imagine.

[Ippei Mizuhara]

Yeah. So very hard to go to him.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

You said he went to go. Think about it. So what does he come back to you with? Like, walk me through that conversation.

[Ippei Mizuhara]

I mean, for the next time I see him, he says, our. I'm just gonna pay the follow up for you. Make sure, like, don't ever get into this again. I mean, that was basically a. He was pretty, like, short and simple.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

Did you discuss how to pay it off?

[Ippei Mizuhara]

He asked me how, like, what do I need to do? And I got angelier information. For. I guess it's Boyer's account.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

Did you reach out to Boyer to get it?

[Ippei Mizuhara]

Yeah.

[Tisha Thompson]

I'm getting really granular here because I want to know exactly, step by step, what the process was that led to those wire transfers. If what Ippei's saying is true, what role did Shohei play in sending money to an illegal bookie?

[Interviewer/Reporter]

So did you send him a text message? Was it an email? Did he send it to you? Did you, like, how does this work?

[Ippei Mizuhara]

Well, he texts. I think he texted me as buyer info.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

So you. You turn around and. And say to Shohei, here's the wire transfer information. Do you show it to him on your phone? Do you text it to him? Do you do it for him? Like, how do you. How does that go?

[Ippei Mizuhara]

I did it on his behalf.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

Okay.

[Ippei Mizuhara]

Supervision.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

So do you have access to his bank account?

[Glenn Washington]

No.

[Ippei Mizuhara]

I don't.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

Okay, so when you say you did it on his behalf, explain to me how that works.

[Ippei Mizuhara]

He was with me. I was with him on this laptop or computer. And I guess he could log in online banking and send a wire.

[Tisha Thompson]

Ippei says Shohei knew about the wires. He says that they sent them together. My adrenaline is pumping. If that's true, he's just put Shohei's fingerprints on the transaction. It wasn't just that the money was coming from Shohei's account. Ippei says Shohei was involved by telling me this, by admitting this, he's directly implicating Shohei in sending millions to an illegal bookmaking operation that's under investigation for money laundering. I'm wondering, does Ippei realize what he just said? When an investigative reporter reaches out about a story that connects a celebrity to potential scandal, it usually kicks off a careful PR response. But here is Ipe possibly implicating Shohei in something that could jeopardize his career. Was this the plan? Is he going off script? Has my line of questioning forced him to reveal something? He didn't mean to because the spokesperson doesn't intervene. So I keep going.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

What was his understanding of who Boyer was? Did he know that Matt was a bookie?

[Ippei Mizuhara]

I don't think he had any clue who he was or what he did. I just told him that this is the guy that I needed from the wire to pay off the debt.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

He didn't say, have you done anything illegal or anything like that?

[Ippei Mizuhara]

No, I don't think he questioned me about that.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

One of the things that we know about the transfers is that it says loan on them. And I'm curious why it says loan.

[Ippei Mizuhara]

We had to add a description for the wire. I think. I think Matt might have told me to just put loan, or you had to put something there.

[Tisha Thompson]

If you wire a real loan to someone, you don't pay income taxes on it. But if you lie about it and it's not actually a loan, you're potentially committing tax fraud.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

I would be interested in seeing any kind of text messages or communications from Matt.

[Ippei Mizuhara]

I deleted every text I had with Matt.

[Tisha Thompson]

Up until this point. I've let Ippei tell me his story in his words. I haven't really pushed back on what he says for a reason. I wanted to see where he would go with it. But now I need to challenge some of what he's told me.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

So, and forgive me for this, Ippei, this is a lot of money. You tell him you're in trouble. You know, it's for gambling. You really didn't sit there and think about whether this was legal or not.

[Ippei Mizuhara]

Me, myself, yeah, I never. That never really crossed my mind ever that this was like illegal at all until a couple days ago when I found out there was an investigation going on. Okay.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

Did you think at any point by asking show hey to pay your debt that he would potentially be committing? He would be putting himself, frankly in the situation we're in right now where there would be questions about legality?

[Ippei Mizuhara]

I don't think either of us didn't think about that at the time at all.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

Do you have the kind of relationship where he does things without questioning it?

[Tisha Thompson]

The spokesperson jumps in here. He says to Ippei, he wasn't happy with you, right?

[Ippei Mizuhara]

No. Yeah, he was definitely not happy.

[Tisha Thompson]

Ippei tells me Boyer wanted the money in a lump sum, but they could only send the wires in five hundred thousand dollar installments. He says he and Shohei sent about eight or nine payments over the course of several months in 2023. That matches what my sources have told me.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

After you tell him about your situation and he begins to make these payments on your behalf, did it or how did it change your relationship with him?

[Ippei Mizuhara]

Honestly, to be. To be honest, in the beginning I felt really uncomfortable. It was hard to like see him. But the nice guy that, I mean, he's a great guy and he just pretty much. He went on his life like nothing ever happened.

[Tisha Thompson]

Shohei going on with his life in 2023 equated to hitting 44 home runs and earning the MVP award in the American League. And now Ippe is telling me that all that time he and Shohei found the time to sit down together and sit secretly wire millions of dollars to Boyer's operation.

[Ippei Mizuhara]

I felt like maybe like after a few weeks, a month, everything got back to where I was before. I mean, for me, I felt really uncomfortable for the first, like few weeks and like really, really guilty and felt terrible. But she kind of helped that go away.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

But you had to keep making these payments.

[Ippei Mizuhara]

Yes.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

Did you have to keep having this conversation?

[Ippei Mizuhara]

But he knew the whole amount and he knew that we had to make several payments because you couldn't send more than 500,000 at a time. So it was, it wasn't like I asked him every week, like, oh, sorry, this came up again. It wasn't like that.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

How was it?

[Ippei Mizuhara]

I told like in the beginning when I told him, like, this is how much I'm in debt and that was the whole amount. But he knew that he had to pay that whole amount off for me, it's going to be an increment.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

So would you go to him and remind him? Would he just do it of his own volition?

[Ippei Mizuhara]

No, I would do it within every time.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

And it just became normal? It wasn't awkward like it was in the beginning? Is that what you're saying? Yes.

[Ippei Mizuhara]

For me, I mean, it was so. That was every time.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

You're right. But he didn't make a big deal out of it?

[Ippei Mizuhara]

No. Yeah.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

How did you feel about that? Explain to me what. How that made you feel.

[Ippei Mizuhara]

I mean, very appreciative, obviously, but same time. So it's really, really like a super guilt trip. Like, really guilty. Terrible. And I mean, ever since that day, like, I. It's always in the back of my mind, haunting me every day. I always think about it, like it's always there in my head, and I don't know if it'll ever go away.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

Did you offer to ever pay him back? Or was this, you know, I'm gonna pay this and we're cool? Or did you say, let me try to pay some of this back?

[Ippei Mizuhara]

No, I'm gonna pay him back. I told him I'm paying back. Might take a while. But I told him even. Even if he says no or anything, I'm gonna make all the effort to pay him back.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

What's really important to me is that I understand correctly about why Shohei would pay an illegal bookmaker directly from his bank account and call it a loan, rather than just giving money to Uepay to pay off your debts.

[Ippei Mizuhara]

So we didn't know that this is illegal. First of all, I think that's very important. And he didn't want me to give the money to me, and he didn't want me to try to gamble it off again. So he wanted to make sure it's going back to the debt.

[Tisha Thompson]

Like my source had predicted. Ippei is taking the blame. He says he was the gambler and he asked Shohei to pay off his debts. But there's a critical question that I've been building to here, which is simply, why should I believe you, Ippei?

[Interviewer/Reporter]

One of the things that's been said to me is that Ohtani owes employer money. And I want to understand why it would be characterized that way.

[Ippei Mizuhara]

To me, I would have no idea why anyone would say that his name

[Interviewer/Reporter]

is on the bank statements, his name's on the wires. I mean, there's gonna be. There's gonna be people wondering, is it Ohtani who did it and you're taking the fall for him. So I want to give you a chance to respond to that.

[Tisha Thompson]

The spokesperson jumps in before Ippei can say anything. He tells me Ippei has already answered the question that he spent the last hour sharing his story. But I push back.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

No, I know, but I want to give you pay a chance to respond to that criticism. You know, I'm anticipating, oh, he's just taking the fall for Ohtani. So what would you say to someone who would accuse you of that?

[Ippei Mizuhara]

So I never ever met Matt Boyer, never talked to him. So there would be no way that survey could have, I mean, been doing this on his own or anything. And it was all me. And that's 100 truth and all Shohei did was pay it all for me. And there's like not much more than that.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

So was there any kind of conversation between the two of you that like his name is now going to be on these wire transfers? He's now connect. You see where I'm getting like he's connected to this now his name, you know, whether it's legal or not, his name is now connected to someone that you owe money to and he's going to get pulled into this. Now was there, was there really no conversation like, oh, now your name's attached to this.

[Ippei Mizuhara]

It really wasn't because like I said earlier, we thought we didn't know this was illegal because it was 100% legal. Didn't really think about his name with troubles with his name being involved in this. Obviously if I knew this was illegal, then I would never show his name into any of the.

[Tisha Thompson]

This is when the spokesperson interjects again, this time telling me there's no cover up. I never said the word cover up. But the spokesperson doubles down saying, if people say this is just a cover up, it's the worst cover up in history.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

Like you're denying there's any kind of COVID up here.

[Ippei Mizuhara]

There's absolutely no cover up. Okay. At all.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

What was your gut level, fundamental reaction when you learned that Matt was under investigation?

[Ippei Mizuhara]

I was scared more than anything. I still am at this moment, but that's about it.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

What are you scared about at this moment?

[Ippei Mizuhara]

Well, this, when the story goes out, the reactions to the story is what I'm afraid of.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

That's what you're afraid of the media, not necessarily the federal investigators or something like that?

[Ippei Mizuhara]

Well, I'm not too sure what's going on with like the whole federal investigation thing. I just know that there's an investigation. I don't know any more details.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

Has anyone reached out to you from the federal government?

[Ippei Mizuhara]

No, never.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

Has anyone reached out to Shohei about these bank transfers from the federal government?

[Ippei Mizuhara]

No, not that I'm aware of. And she would tell me if someone did.

[Tisha Thompson]

We've now been talking for about 80 minutes and the spokesperson is interrupting more and more. I can feel that my time is running out and I'm worried he's going to try to end the interview.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

I'm getting very close to the end, guys, because I know you're watching the clock. Just bear with me. I'm going through my notes. I can.

[Ippei Mizuhara]

Okay, I can. I have time tomorrow to talk or tonight after the game.

[Tisha Thompson]

Ippei thinks we're going to have the chance to talk again. He and I seem to have a very different understanding of the gravity of what he's told me. I think he's going to be fired. He may be in even more trouble. I don't know. Either way, I don't think they're ever going to let me talk to him again.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

What have I not asked you that you think is really important that people understand that you want folks to know?

[Ippei Mizuhara]

Obviously I want everyone to know that. So they have zero involvement in the vetting. Want to make that clear. And I want people to know that I did not know this was illegal. And obviously I learned my lesson in a very hard way. And I take it to the heart. I take it to my heart and I will never, ever do sports betting ever again.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

Never do sports betting. Are you prepared to face the consequences if baseball, and when I say baseball, I mean the Dodgers or Major League Baseball decides to take action?

[Ippei Mizuhara]

Yes, I'm fully prepared to face any and all consequences.

[Tisha Thompson]

After I hang up with Ippei, I begin to type out my story. Ippei Mizuhara says he lost millions of dollars in bets with an illegal bookmaker and his best friend, Shohei Ohtani, someone he says he is closer to than a brother, offered to pay off his debts. At least that's what the article was going to say.

[Glenn Washington]

I'm Glenn Washington, host of Snap Judgment, the award winning storytelling podcast from kqed. Every week, Snap deals a new card. Like the girl whose sister was a monkey. Or the man who lived in the woods for 30 years. Or even the woman who snuck her lover out of prison in a dog crate. Pick a card, any card. Tap to listen. Now to Snap Judgment from KQED on Spotify.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

Hey, it's Ryan Reynolds here for Mint Mobile.

[Ippei Mizuhara]

Now, I was looking for fun ways

[Glenn Washington]

to tell you that Mint's offer of unlimited Premium Wireless for $15 a month is back. So I thought it would be fun if we made $15 bills but it turns out that's very illegal. So there goes my big idea for the commercial. Give it a [e-mail] Switch upfront payment

[Podcast Advertiser/Host]

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[Tisha Thompson]

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[Tisha Thompson]

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[Ippei Mizuhara]

Foreign.

[Tisha Thompson]

With Ippe the opening day game of the 2024 MLB season gets underway.

[Ippei Mizuhara]

So please welcome to the field the

[Glenn Washington]

staff coaches and reserves for the Los

[Ippei Mizuhara]

Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres.

[Tisha Thompson]

The Dodgers versus the Padres. The two American teams are excited. Go Chuck. Skydome in Seoul, South Korea. Little morning baseball back in the United States.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

Evening here in Seoul.

[Tisha Thompson]

I'm watching the game on my laptop while I work on my story. All eyes are on Shohei.

[Ippei Mizuhara]

Coming second. The designated hitter, number 17, Shohei O.

[Tisha Thompson]

But at this moment, I don't really care care about what's happening on the field. I'm waiting for the cameras to cut away to the dugout. Waiting, watching for Ippei. What does he look like? Is he tired? Because I'm exhausted. I never went to bed and it's now six o' clock in the morning on the East Coast. Will he look stressed? Will Shohei be able to look him in the eye? Because Ippei's made a mess and now Shohei and his people are going to have to clean it up.

[Ippei Mizuhara]

And here is Shohei Ohtani for the first time in a Los Angeles Dodger uniform.

[Tisha Thompson]

Ippei has just confessed to an ESPN reporter that he racked up millions of dollars of debt betting on sports and that he and Shohei sent money to an illegal bookmaking operation. In just a couple of hours, we're planning to publish my article that will reveal both of the these things to the world. But instead of looking like two men who are in trouble and whose relationship I would think would be under considerable stress, they're laughing, standing next to each other in the dugout. Watching the game, Shohei and Ippei are laughing together. Very little surprises me these days, but that the two of them laughing. I was stunned. The Dodgers beat the Padres 5 2. As the team walks off the field into the locker room, we're in the final stages of putting our story together. But less than 15 minutes before we're set to publish, I get a call from Shohei spokesperson Matt Hiltzik. When I pick up, he shouts into the phone, ippei lied. Matt Hiltzik is freaking out in a way I've never before experienced in my career. He's frantic, telling me that Shohei just now learned about the transfers from his account. Just now? In the locker room, he says Shohei had no idea Ippei was using his money to pay off the debts and that the whole thing was a lie. He says he's still trying to figure out what happened and hangs up. Not long after, I get a statement from Ohtani's lawyers. It says, in the course of responding to recent media inquiries, we discovered that Shohei has been the victim of a massive theft and we are turning the matter over to the authorities. I call Ippei. I don't record it. Everything is moving too fast. I read him the statement and he confirms it, but won't say anything more. Ippei, I say, did you lie to me last night in some of your statements? Yes. I'm worried he'll hang up and I need clear answers. So I jump into a set of yes or no questions. Did Shohei transfer funds to the bookmaking operation? No. Did Shohei know the funds were being transferred? No. Did you tell Shohei about the gambling debts and wiring the money? No. Did you offer to pay him back? Yes.

[Podcast Advertiser/Host]

When?

[Tisha Thompson]

As soon as I can, I ask. Today or in the past? Ippei says I told him today and the past. I'd been told by Shohei's team that he only learned just now that Ippei took his money. But Ippei saying he had offered to pay it back in the past. So I start to ask him when did Shohei learn his money was missing? But Ippei interrupts me. They told me I can't answer anything. Who is they? He doesn't answer. Is it Ohtani's people? He doesn't answer. I ask him if he's being paid or getting any kind of deal to say this. He says no, he's doing it of his own free will. Are you employed with the Dodgers? He tells me he's not sure. Then I ask did you lie to show? Ippei says yes. Throughout the call, I can hear a voice talking. I think to him. I can't tell if it's a man or a woman. I don't know if it was his wife, Shohei's agent, or someone else. When I ask, are you being accused of stealing or embezzling from Shohei? Ippei interrupts, I was also told I can't comment on that part. I ask, have you told your family? He says, I don't want to talk about my family. We hang up. I call my editors. As we drop these new quotes into the story, I text Ippei with one final question. Did you take the money from Shohei's accounts without his knowledge? Ippei never responds.

[Glenn Washington]

The Dodgers have fired the interpreter for Shohei Ohtani.

[Tim Keown]

Misuhara allegedly placed wagers with an illegal sports book in California, accused of racking up millions of dollars in illegal gambling debts and claims Ohtani had no knowledge of his gambling debts or transfers.

[Glenn Washington]

It's certainly not the good look now

[Tim Keown]

that Ohtani would like the scandal now rocking the sport.

[Ippei Mizuhara]

So how in the world does someone

[Glenn Washington]

just transfer four and a half million dollars of his money and he has no idea of it?

[Tisha Thompson]

Why did the story change so drastically? My sources first told me Shohei's bank account was sending money to a bookie. But then Ippei said he was the one gambling. Shohei was just helping him pay his debts. And now it's changed again. It was all Ippei placed the bets and somehow accessed Shohei's bank account to pay off the bookie. And Shohei knew nothing about it. Who really is Ippei? Says he and Shohei were closer than brothers, always together. And so in this moment, people were asking, is it really possible that Shohei didn't know what was going on?

[Tim Keown]

You know where your money's at. I know where my money's at.

[Ippei Mizuhara]

That's all I can say.

[Tisha Thompson]

Either Shohei was betrayed by his best friend or he threw his best friend under. Under the bus. This season on the betrayal of Shohei Ohtani.

[Glenn Washington]

Everyone wants every little bit of Shohei Ohtani. And Ippei was part of him. Part of the Shohei Ohtani deal was Ippei. I was shocked to see this person bet over 19,000 sports events.

[Tisha Thompson]

I mean, even if I wanted to,

[Glenn Washington]

I couldn't do that many bets.

[Tisha Thompson]

I was pissed.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

It was definitely a manipulation from the get go.

[Ippei Mizuhara]

It painted a really shocking picture of

[Glenn Washington]

one person abusing the trust of another person.

[Ippei Mizuhara]

Ohtani on the run ball. One down and Ohtani has another stolen base.

[Tisha Thompson]

The betrayal of Shohei Ohtani is based on reporting by me, Tisha Thompson with support from Tim Kewan and the ESPN Investigative Unit. Our producer is Carrie Ann Thomas. Our senior producer is Max Green. Our senior editorial producer is Preeti Varathan. Our associate producer is Gus Navarro. Story editing by Audrey Quinn, Elaine Tang, Eric Neal and Mike Drago. Additional edition editing by Rebecca Hudson. Our archival producer is Jennifer Wheelock. Our line producer is Kathryn Sankey. Production managers are Jason Schwartz and Sheena Williams. Fact checking by John masserberradino with David Sabino. Additional editorial review from Masa Niwa. Original music by Alison Layton Brown and John DeLore. Sound design by John Delore. Chris Buckle is vice president of ESPN Investigative Intervention in Digital Journalism. Marcia Cook, Brian Lockhart, Heather Anderson and Burke Magnus are executive producers for 30 for 30. David Roberts, Mike Foss and Roxanna Scott are executive producers for espn.

[Glenn Washington]

I'm Glenn Washington, host of Snap Judgment, the award winning storytelling podcast from kqed. Every week Snap deals a new card. Like the girl whose sister was a monkey. Or the man who lived in the woods for 30 years. Or even the woman who snuck her lover out of prison in a dog crate. Pick a card, any card. Tap to listen. Now to Snap Judgment from KQED on Spotify.

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