LOS ANGELES – Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani’s interpreter Ippei Mizuhara has been fired by the team amid allegations he had engaged in “massive theft” from the player to pay off gambling debts, news outlets reported.

Ohtani’s attorneys told the LA Times that Mizuhara had used the Japanese baseball star’s funds to pay off an alleged illegal bookmaker, who is reportedly under federal investigation.

ESPN reported that at least US$4.5 million (S$6 million) had been transferred from Ohtani’s account to a southern California gambling operation.

“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,” law firm Berk Brettler said in a statement.

Mizuhara, who is a long-time friend of Ohtani and had travelled to Seoul with the Dodgers for their Major League Baseball season-opening series, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

In an interview with ESPN on March 19, he initially said that Ohtani had agreed to cover his gambling debts.

“Obviously, (Ohtani) wasn’t happy about it and said he would help me out to make sure I never do this again,” Mizuhara said. “He decided to pay it off for me... I want everyone to know Shohei had zero involvement in betting.”

A day later, however, he changed tune and told the sports broadcast network that Ohtani did not know about the gambling debts and had not transferred money to the bookmaker’s associate.

“Obviously, this is all my fault, everything I’ve done. I’m ready to face all the consequences,” he said.

Mizuhara also told ESPN his bets were on international football, the NBA (National Basketball Association), the NFL (National Football League) and college football but never baseball.

“I never bet on baseball,” he said.

“That’s 100 per cent. I knew that rule. We have a meeting about that in spring training.”

The Dodgers on March 20 confirmed to Reuters that Mizuhara had been fired.

“The Dodgers are aware of media reports and are gathering information,” a spokesperson for the team added.

Mizuhara came to California with Ohtani when he joined the Los Angeles Angels in 2018. He was hired by the Dodgers when Ohtani inked a record 10-year, US$700 million contract with the team in the off-season.

The interpreter has been a constant companion in the dugout and off the field.

He runs errands for Ohtani on a personal level and translates scouting reports from managers and coaches to the player in the clubhouse. AFP, REUTERS