Just moments after Matt Bowyer engaged with his Instagram followers on Tuesday, Shohei Ohtani hit a leadoff home run against the San Diego Padres, sending a low slider nearly 440 feet. This marked Ohtani’s 23rd homer of the season and his 132nd since joining the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2024, making him the leading home run hitter in Major League Baseball during that period. Bowyer, a former bookmaker, expressed his excitement about potentially attending a Dodgers game this season, his first since being released from prison earlier this spring.
Speaking through interpreter Will Ireton, Ohtani acknowledged a delay in his return to the mound due to a biceps injury. Nonetheless, he remains the frontrunner for the National League MVP award, aiming to become the first player since Barry Bonds to achieve MVP honors in four consecutive seasons. This is the kind of recognition Dodgers fans envisioned when Ohtani began his "Big Blue" career during the 2024 MLB Korea Series, a considerable distance from Chavez Ravine.
Since a pivotal incident on March 20, 2024, which significantly altered the lives of Ohtani, Bowyer, and former translator Ippei Mizuhara, Ohtani's performance has remarkably improved. That day, Mizuhara disclosed to ESPN that Ohtani allegedly transferred millions to Bowyer's accounts to settle Mizuhara's gambling debts. Mizuhara later retracted his statement, asserting that Ohtani had fallen victim to embezzlement.
This week, the situation resurfaced as ESPN released new audio from Mizuhara’s initial interview. Bowyer reiterated his belief that Ohtani had not engaged in illegal betting. "He did nothing wrong. I don't believe he gambled," Bowyer stated in his Instagram session on Tuesday.
Prior to the start of the 2024 MLB season, Ohtani and the Dodgers held a two-game series against the Padres in Seoul. During this period, Tisha Thompson, an investigative reporter with ESPN, had been investigating a significant gambling story. Sources informed Thompson of allegations concerning wire transfers from a bank account under Ohtani's name, including two transfers of $500,000 each to accounts linked to Bowyer's betting operation.
Thompson received inaccurate information that seemingly connected Ohtani to these payments before reaching out to his representatives. After a meeting, Hiltzik Strategies, a crisis management firm representing Ohtani, facilitated contact with Mizuhara. Matthew Hiltzik, the firm’s founder, has previously advised high-profile clients like Hillary Clinton and Ivanka Trump.
Bowyer, whose home was searched by federal agents in October 2023, faced accusations of accepting around $325 million in wagers from Mizuhara. Mizuhara's reported winnings of $142.3 million were overshadowed by losses totaling $182.9 million, leading to a $40.2 million debt. Thompson's interview with Mizuhara sparked public curiosity about the nature of the wire transfers, as Bowyer received payments of nearly $17 million, leaving substantial debts outstanding.
New revelations emerging from Thompson's report highlighted how Mizuhara had initially provided information that he later admitted to fabricating.
The game concluded with Ohtani contributing to the Dodgers' 5-2 victory, even as MLB sources revealed that he had covered a portion of Mizuhara's debts. During a clubhouse meeting, Mizuhara disclosed his gambling addiction to the team and apologized for his financial troubles. Ohtani later discovered missing funds from his account, prompting him to consult his legal team, who advised him to report the matter to law enforcement.
By the afternoon of that day, Ohtani’s attorneys issued a statement declaring that he had been a victim of extensive theft and were involving authorities. Mizuhara was terminated by the Dodgers shortly thereafter. In a follow-up call to Thompson, Mizuhara claimed Ohtani had no knowledge of the gambling debts and did not authorize any funds to be sent to Bowyer's enterprise.
While Mizuhara received a salary exceeding $300,000 per year from the Dodgers, he still relied on outside financing to place bets with Bowyer. The ex-bookmaker confirmed that Mizuhara's betting limits could reach around $100,000 per bet. Legal complaints have indicated large sums bet by Mizuhara during his time in the Dodgers’ organization, raising significant concerns.
After arriving back in the U.S. from South Korea, Mizuhara was intercepted by Homeland Security Investigations, who later seized his phone. At a subsequent press conference at Dodger Stadium, Ohtani denied any involvement in gambling, alleging Mizuhara had stolen funds from him and misrepresented his knowledge of the debt payments.
Ohtani expressed genuine disbelief regarding the situation, stating, "To summarize how I’m feeling right now, I’m just beyond shocked. It’s really hard to verbalize how I’m feeling at this point."
He was later identified in a criminal complaint as "Victim A" and engaged with investigators from IRS Criminal Investigations. IRS special agent Chris Seymour examined thousands of messages between Ohtani and Mizuhara in the course of the investigation. Just weeks later, federal prosecutors indicted Mizuhara on bank fraud charges, and during his February 2025 sentencing, he apologized to Ohtani for his betrayal.
According to Bureau of Prison records, Mizuhara is expected to be released in January 2029, after which he may face deportation to Japan.
As the investigation progressed, Seymour highlighted that Ohtani had been very forthcoming and honest with authorities. He emphasized that high-profile victims, such as Ohtani, would receive equal treatment under federal regulations.
The evidence collected appeared to contradict Mizuhara's initial claims implicating Ohtani in the financial transactions. Investigators noted Mizuhara's actions were suspicious and devised to shift the blame. Ohtani's name was used without his consent in attempts to cover debts, casting further doubt on Mizuhara’s statements.
In light of this ongoing situation, a statement from Major League Baseball indicated that they regard Ohtani as a victim of fraud, confirming the matter is closed from their perspective.
Bowyer, currently nearing the end of his one-year prison sentence, has spoken on the challenges of incarceration and the influence of Mizuhara's gambling issues. Following his guilty plea, Bowyer was banned from Nevada casinos due to his offenses related to illegal gambling and money laundering. Four casino operators faced millions in fines tied to Bowyer's activities.
ESPN's documentary series titled "The Betrayal of Shohei Ohtani" is set to conclude on August 11, with episodes continuing to explore the complexities surrounding this case. Bowyer noted extensive interviews with ESPN, showcasing his connections to various former players and the gambling culture within Major League Baseball.
As Ohtani enters a defining phase of his career, he has already made history by joining Babe Ruth as one of only two players in MLB with over 500 strikeouts as a pitcher and more than 200 home runs as a batter. Bowyer remains confident Ohtani did not engage in any betting activities, but like many, he questions the extent of Ohtani’s awareness prior to March 20, 2024. "I’ll say this as I said from day one, there are only two people in the world who know one million percent of the truth – and that’s Ippei and Shohei," Bowyer remarked on Tuesday.
