The latest 30 for 30 Podcasts series from ESPN, The Betrayal of Shohei Ohtani, has a detailed look at one of baseball’s most significant scandals.
It involves the baseball player and his former interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara.
The six-part podcast, hosted by ESPN investigative reporter Tisha Thompson, explores the breakdown of trust between Ohtani and Mizuhara, which led to the exposure of millions of dollars being stolen from Ohtani’s bank account.
Ohtani, who moved from Japan to the United States, has become a global figure in baseball, excelling as both a pitcher and designated hitter.
Before the 2024 season, he signed a 10-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers worth $700 million, marking the largest deal in professional sports at that time.
A few months before this contract was finalised, Tisha received a tip about large sums of money transferred from Ohtani’s account to an illegal bookmaking operation.
As Ohtani prepared for his first season in Los Angeles, Mizuhara initially claimed Ohtani had helped him pay off gambling debts.
However, within a day, the story shifted dramatically when Mizuhara admitted to stealing over $16 million from Ohtani. This revelation raised immediate questions about the trust and dynamics between the two men.
The podcast goes beyond the headlines, providing new insights into Mizuhara’s background and featuring audio from the only interview he gave about the scandal.
Listeners will also hear from Mathew Bowyer, who operated one of the country’s largest illegal bookmaking businesses, offering a perspective on Mizuhara’s gambling activities.
Tisha interviews three federal agents involved in the case, including an exclusive discussion with the IRS agent who reviewed the financial transactions and communications between Mizuhara and Bowyer, as well as text messages between Mizuhara and Ohtani.
The first two episodes, titled “The Letter O” and “The Interview”, are available from today, 28 July, with new episodes released every Tuesday and Thursday until 11 August.
