LOS ANGELES – Shohei Ohtani, the superstar slugger with the Los Angeles Dodgers, has taken legal action against former interpreter Ippei Mizuhara, seeking to reclaim approximately $325,000 worth of baseball cards. Ohtani's court filings highlight Mizuhara’s "wrongful possession" of these valuable collectibles, which the player claims were improperly acquired earlier this year.
The legal dispute has its roots deeply embedded in financial misconduct, with Mizuhara having previously been implicated for illegally transferring $17 million from Ohtani’s account to feed his gambling addiction. According to the court filings, some of the money diverted from Ohtani's account was allegedly spent on the very collectibles the player is now trying to recover.
According to the U.S. district court documentation submitted by Ohtani and his attorney Blair Berk, Mizuhara purchased roughly $325,000 worth of baseball cards between January and March 2024 from online platforms including eBay and Whatnot, utilizing funds drawn from Ohtani’s bank account. "Between January and March 2024, Defendant purchased approximately $325,000 worth of baseball cards at online resellers eBay and Whatnot, with payments drawn on Petitioner’s bank account," the legal filing reads.
Further allegations claim Mizuhara also possesses a collection of signed baseball cards depicting Ohtani, which he reportedly seized unlawfully. "Mizuhara has... personally signed collectible baseball cards which depict and are the property of Petitioner, and which at the time of their seizure were in the unauthorized and wrongful possession of Defendant," stated Ohtani’s legal representatives.
While Mizuhara's legal troubles mount, his attorney has yet to issue any comments following the recent court developments. Mizuhara is slated for sentencing this coming January, following his guilty plea related to the illegal financial transactions.
The saga first emerged publicly back in late March, just as the Dodgers commenced their 2024 season in Seoul, raising questions about the ethical conduct of team personnel. Ohtani has consistently denied any involvement in betting on sports, and law enforcement agencies have not accused him of such activities. Despite the turmoil, he continued performing at elite levels, clinching the National League MVP award and leading the Dodgers to their first full-season World Series title since 1988.
With legal sports betting now allowed across 38 states and the District of Columbia, the scrutiny on MLB players has heightened, especially considering state laws— such as those prohibiting sports wagering within California— and MLB regulations. The league has stringent rules against players or team employees engaging with gambling on sports, emphasizing the need for transparency and integrity within the game.
The outcomes of this legal conflict could set notable precedents not just for Ohtani, but for the sports community at large, potentially affecting how personal finance, integrity, and player relations are managed as legal gambling gains traction nationally. Ohtani, who is operationally valued at around $700 million, must navigate these disputes with the same precision with which he approaches his game.
Ohtani's legal actions not only aim to retrieve his lost possessions but also carry broader implications about the need for ethical standards among sports professionals and how breaches can lead down complicated legal paths. Whether Ohtani can successfully reclaim the cards and distance himself from the fallout of Mizuhara’s actions remains to be seen.