Ohtani's temporary interpreter, betrayed by Mizuhara, turns out to be quite capable.
Shohei Ohtani's (LA Dodgers) interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, has been fired for illegal gambling and theft, and temporary interpreter Will Ayreton is stepping into the spotlight with a colorful resume.
Ohtani made the statement at a press conference ahead of the Dodgers' game against the Los Angeles Angels at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California, on April 26. No cameras were allowed and no questions were asked by the media.
Mizuhara, whom Ohtani first met when he joined the Nippon Professional Baseball Nippon Ham Fighters in 2013, has been a shadowy presence since his arrival in the major leagues in 2018, serving as more than just an interpreter, but also a personal assistant and manager. Mizuhara was also a constant companion when it came to baseball, from assisting with training to analyzing power, which Ohtani trusted.
"It's very shocking and sad because he was someone I trusted. I never bet or asked him to bet on sports," said Ohtani.
"There is a limit to what I can do today, so I want you to understand and I want to explain what happened," he said, adding, "I never bet on anything or asked him to bet money on baseball or any other sporting event. I never asked him to wire money. I didn't even know he was doing that until a few days ago. He was stealing money and lying to everyone," he said.
"He didn't even tell me about the (ESPN) interview request and lied to me that he was communicating with me. 토토사이트 I found out about it in a team meeting right after the opening game in South Korea. There was no interpreter and they were speaking in English, so I didn't fully understand and felt a little uncomfortable. I waited for them to talk about it when I got back to the hotel."
"It was only when I got back to the hotel that I realized in detail that (Mizuhara) was lying. I soon informed my lawyer and the Dodgers organization. That's the whole story of what happened," he explained.
Japanese media outlet The Digest reported on the colorful history of Ohtani's temporary interpreter, Ayleton, on Sunday. Ayreton, who interpreted for Genta Maeda (Detroit Tigers) when he played for the Dodgers, currently works in the baseball operations department and will stay by Ohtani's side until he finds a new interpreter.
"Born to a Japanese-American father and Filipino mother, he grew up in Tokyo until the age of 15, when he moved to the United States, where he played high school and college baseball," the outlet said. After being selected to represent the Philippines in the 2013 World Baseball Classic, Ayreton signed a minor league contract with the Texas Rangers but was released after just one year."
The Digest described Ayreton as an "idol of the game," noting that he can interpret Japanese and analyze data. "Ayreton has been analyzing data for the Dodgers since 2019 and is currently working in the organization. He is an integral part of the team's staff."
Waseda University Distinguished Professor Robert Campbell, a researcher of Japanese literature and a well-known broadcaster, praised Ayleton's interpretation skills. In a broadcast program, he said, "He really captured Otani's pain at being betrayed by Mizuhara, whom he trusted. The interpretation was also very appropriate, accurate, and smooth," he said.
"Praised by an authority on Japanese literature who is a native English speaker," the outlet said, "Ayleton is also skilled in data analysis. Ohtani is going into the season with a new partner."