How Dodgers PR Handled Shohei Ohtani’s Postgame Availability Thursday Amid Scandal
With speculation surrounding his relationship with former translator Ippei Mizuhara, Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter and pitcher Shohei Ohtani had little to say to reporters Thursday morning.
Ohtani left the Dodgers’ clubhouse in Seoul without taking any questions after Los Angeles’s 15–11 loss to the San Diego Padres in the finale of their two-game series in Seoul, South Korea.
Per Chelsea Janes of The Washington Post, the Dodgers’ public relations team told reporters Ohtani would not be speaking, and then he left telling the press in Japanese to “have a good night.”
On Wednesday, Tisha Thompson of ESPN published a stunning story outlining Ohtani’s allegation that Mizuhara stole $4.5 million from him to finance a gambling habit—after an Ohtani representative initially suggested the two-time American League MVP transferred the money to Mizuhara voluntarily.
Dodgers PR guarded Ohtani’s locker as he changed, then told reporters he would not be speaking. When reporters surrounded his locker, asking if he had a second anyway, he walked by and out of the clubhouse saying what the Japanese reporters translated as “have a good night.”
— Chelsea Janes (@chelsea_janes) March 21, 2024
Los Angeles quickly moved to dismiss Mizuhara, and Dodgers manager of performance operations Will Ireton reportedly will serve as Ohtani’s interpreter going forward.
Will Ireton, the Dodgers current Manager of Performance Operations, will take over as Shohei Ohtani's translator following the firing of Ohtani's longtime translator Ippei Mizuhara. Ireton was previously Kenta Maeda's translator during his time with the Dodgers.
— Doug McKain (@DMAC_LA) March 21, 2024