The story of Ippei Mizuhara stealing nearly $17 million from Shohei Ohtani was already difficult to comprehend. Hearing him pretend to be the Los Angeles Dodgers star makes the betrayal feel even colder.

A recording of Mizuhara speaking with a bank representative will be featured in ESPN’s upcoming six-part podcast, “The Betrayal of Shohei Ohtani.” During the call, Ohtani’s former interpreter allegedly posed as the baseball superstar while attempting to authorize a $200,000 wire transfer.

When the representative asked for his name, Mizuhara answered, “Shohei Ohtani.”

He claimed the money was being sent to a friend for a car loan. Mizuhara was able to answer the bank’s security questions because he had changed the contact information attached to Ohtani’s account, directing calls and messages to himself.

Mizuhara had unlimited access

It was hardly a spur-of-the-moment con. Mizuhara had access, knew the security process and understood how to make the request sound believable. He had spent years beside Ohtani, serving as more than an interpreter. Mizuhara was a close companion, throwing partner and almost constant presence as Ohtani adjusted to life in Major League Baseball.

He then used that trust to reach directly into Ohtani’s bank account.

Federal investigators determined Mizuhara illegally transferred almost $17 million from the two-way star between 2021 and 2024. Much of the money went toward paying gambling debts owed to an illegal bookmaker, although authorities also said he purchased baseball cards and covered personal expenses with Ohtani’s funds.

Mizuhara plead guilty and Ohtani was cleared of wrongdoing

Mizuhara pleaded guilty to bank fraud and filing a false tax return in June 2024. He was later sentenced to 57 months in federal prison and ordered to repay nearly $17 million to Ohtani, along with more than $1 million to the IRS. He began serving his sentence in Pennsylvania in June 2025.

Ohtani was cleared of involvement in the gambling operation. Investigators found no evidence that he knowingly approved the transactions or placed illegal wagers himself.

ESPN’s podcast, hosted by investigative reporter Tisha Thompson, will revisit how Mizuhara gained Ohtani’s confidence and concealed the theft for years. The first two episodes are scheduled for release on July 28, with additional episodes arriving through Aug. 11.

Baseball fans already know how the scandal ended. The audio supplies the uglier part: how easily Mizuhara slipped into Ohtani’s identity and treated his closest friend’s fortune like a personal ATM.