What to know about the scandal over Shohei Ohtani's interpreter

Baseball star Shohei Ohtani (right) and his interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara (left), are seen in the dugout in the 2024 MLB Seoul Series game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Diego Padres. The Dodgers have fired Mizuhara after Ohtani's representatives claimed he was the victim of "a massive theft." (Jung Yeon-Je/AFP via Getty Images)

In an ordinary time, MLB superstar Shohei Ohtani's debut for the Los Angeles Dodgers would dominate sports headlines, as he brings a jaw-dropping array of talent onto the field. The Dodgers are even opening their 2024 season on a splashy trip to South Korea.

But Ohtani's performance on the field is competing for attention with another extraordinary story about him, one that centers on illegal gambling — and allegations that Ohtani's friend and longtime interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, drained millions of dollars from the player's bank accounts to cover bad bets.