Shortly after Matt Bowyer engaged with his Instagram followers in an interactive chat on Tuesday, Shohei Ohtani hit a leadoff home run, smashing a low slider nearly 440 feet, marking his 23rd of the season. This impressive shot also made Ohtani the leader in home runs since joining the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2024, with 132 homers in total—the highest for any Major League Baseball player within that period. During the chat, Bowyer, a former bookmaker recently released from prison, expressed his desire to attend a Dodgers game this season, his first outing since his incarceration.
Ohtani shared through interpreter Will Ireton that his return to the pitcher's mound has been postponed due to a biceps injury. Nevertheless, he remains the frontrunner for the National League MVP award, aiming to achieve what hasn't been done since Barry Bonds: winning league MVPs for four consecutive seasons. This was the kind of success Dodgers fans had envisioned when he began his "Big Blue" career at the 2024 MLB Korea Series, a considerable distance from Chavez Ravine.
In a twist of fate, Ohtani’s performance has seen an upswing since the life-altering events of March 20, 2024. On that day, dubbed a turning point, Mizuhara claimed to ESPN that Ohtani transferred millions to accounts under Bowyer's control to cover Mizuhara's gambling debts. Hours later, Mizuhara retracted his statements, contending that Ohtani was actually a victim of grand theft.
This week, ESPN released new audio from Mizuhara's initial interview, prompting Bowyer to reaffirm his belief that Ohtani did not engage in any gambling activities with his illegal sportsbook. "He did nothing wrong; I don’t believe he gambled," Bowyer stated during his Instagram session.
In the days leading up to the opening of the 2024 MLB season, Ohtani and the Dodgers faced off against the Padres in Seoul. Tisha Thompson, an investigative reporter for ESPN, had been investigating a substantial gambling story, with multiple sources alleging wire transfers from a bank account under Ohtani's name. She uncovered two transfers of $500,000 each sent to accounts linked to Bowyer’s betting operations.
The day of the game, Thompson had received misinformation suggesting Ohtani was involved in the payments. After reaching out to Ohtani’s representatives, she was connected with Mizuhara through crisis management firm Hiltzik Strategies. This firm, led by crisis expert Matthew Hiltzik, has represented high-profile clients including Hillary Clinton and Katie Couric.
Bowyer's home was raided by federal authorities the preceding October, leading to accusations that he accepted roughly $325 million in bets from Mizuhara. Mizuhara’s reported gross winnings were $142.3 million, counterbalanced by losses totaling $182.9 million, resulting in a net debt of $40.2 million. Bowyer received payments of nearly $17 million for the gambling debts while the remaining amount is still pending. Thompson's interview with Mizuhara was pivotal in igniting public interest in the unfolding saga.
Mizuhara had previously provided a partial set of comments to ESPN, but new details emerged in the latest podcast. Thompson recounted meeting with an unnamed source in the middle of the night to obtain information about routing numbers on an encrypted phone. Two significant wire transfers occurred in September and October 2023, coinciding with Ohtani's last weeks as a member of the Los Angeles Angels, just before he was set aside for the season and after the conclusion of the Angels' schedule.
Throughout the tense call, Mizuhara initially tried to outline the nature of these transactions, only to later admit some details were fabricated.
Ohtani had a strong showing during the Dodgers’ 5-2 victory, with a key RBI in a crucial eighth-inning rally. After the game, an MLB source indicated that Ohtani had assisted in covering Mizuhara’s debts. In the clubhouse, Dodgers executive Andrew Friedman informed players of this arrangement, while Mizuhara publicly apologized, attributing his financial troubles to gambling addiction. Reports suggest Ohtani learned about funds missing from his account shortly afterward and contacted his legal team, who advised him to allow law enforcement to investigate.
Ohtani’s lawyers, Berk Brettler LLP, later issued a statement confirming that he had been a victim of theft, leading to the Dodgers terminating Mizuhara’s contract. Subsequently, Mizuhara told Thompson he had lied during their earlier conversation, claiming Ohtani was unaware of the gambling debts.
Despite Mizuhara earning over $300,000 annually as Ohtani’s interpreter, he apparently still required financial support to wager with the limits set by Bowyer. Moreover, Bowyer noted that Mizuhara received up to $100,000 per bet.
Following his return from South Korea, federal agents apprehended Mizuhara at Los Angeles International Airport, seizing his phone. Later, Ohtani refuted the allegations of gambling at a press conference, clarifying that Mizuhara had been deceitful.
While Mizuhara faced criminal charges, including bank fraud, Ohtani’s cooperation with authorities underscored his victimization. A wealth of text messages between Ohtani and Mizuhara was reviewed by investigators, and Mizuhara ultimately recognized his betrayal.
As the ongoing investigation proceeded, Mizuhara was indicted and, in February 2025, sentenced for his crimes. He could potentially face deportation back to Japan upon his release from prison, scheduled for January 2029.
IRS special agent Chris Seymour underscored that celebrities are treated like any other victims during investigations. Federal prosecutors have conducted meticulous inquiries into Mizuhara’s conduct, casting doubt on the plausibility of his initial claims that Ohtani consented to the transfers. Mizuhara is alleged to have impersonated Ohtani to secure unauthorized wire transfers.
Bowyer, nearing the one-year mark of his own sentencing, faces permanent exclusion from state-licensed casinos and hefty fines imposed on several gaming entities linked to his actions. In previous comments, he described Mizuhara's financial support as pivotal to his lavish lifestyle.
ESPN's ongoing series, "The Betrayal of Shohei Ohtani," will continue to explore these developments, with Bowyer sharing insights from extensive interviews conducted over a sizeable duration. As this provocative saga unfolds, questions linger about the extent of Ohtani’s knowledge regarding Mizuhara's financial predicaments and the events that significantly impacted their lives.
