2024-03-24 02:39:00
The scandal surrounding Shohei Ohtani and his interpreter Ippei Mizuhara has been the subject of much discussion in recent days. New information surrounding Mizuhara’s past will do nothing to lessen suspicion against him.
In an article published on The Athletic by journalist Sam Blum, we discovered that Mizuhara had lied for years about his university studies.
The Los Angeles Angels media guide listed Mizuhara as a 2007 graduate of the University of California, Riverside.
However, as first reported NBC Los Angelesthe university disputed the notion that Mizuhara had ever attended school, let alone graduated.
“Our university records do not show that a student named Ippei Mizuhara attended Riverside,” a school spokesperson told The Athletic.
The university did not respond when Blum asked if it was possible that Mizuhara had attended the school under a different name. Spokespeople representing Ohtani declined to comment when asked about the matter. They did not answer whether they believed Mizuhara’s biography during her work with Ohtani.
Also according to the Angels media guide, Mizuhara then spent 2012 training camp working for the New York Yankees as an interpreter for Japanese pitcher Hideki Okajima. Multiple reports indicated that Mizuhara served as Okajima’s interpreter in 2010 with the Boston Red Sox – where he reportedly got his first opportunity in the major leagues.
Multiple articles showed that Okajima failed a physical on February 17, 2012, before Yankees training camp, when he was released by the organization.
Mizuhara could have worked with Okajima before the official start of camp for about a month, when minor league players can arrive earlier to practice. The Angels media guide, however, has stated every year since 2019 that Mizuhara “served as an interpreter for Hideki Okajima during Yankees training camp in 2012.”
Lies that keep coming
In addition to a stint with the Yankees that would have never happened, Mizuhara would also have never worked with the Red Sox. Earlier this week, the Red Sox distributed a statement stating that Mizuhara never worked for the team.
“We are contacting you due to reports in various media outlets that Ippei Mizuhara worked for the Red Sox as an interpreter, which is incorrect,” a message provided to members of the media read Friday.
“Mizuhara was never employed by the Boston Red Sox in any capacity and was not a performer for Hideki Okajima while the pitcher was with the team. Please be aware that we have carefully checked our files to ensure that we provide accurate information. »
Mizuhara and Okajima could not be reached for comment.
On Friday, MLB officially announced that it had opened an investigation into the Los Angeles Dodgers star and his former interpreter.
“MLB has been gathering information since we learned of the allegations involving Shohei Ohtani and Ippei Mizuhari through the media,” MLB said in a statement. Earlier today, our Department of Investigation (DOI) began its formal process of investigating the matter.
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