Minus buffer of Ippei Mizuhara, Dodgers engaging more directly with Shohei Ohtani

Jack Harris March 26, 2024

There has been plenty of fallout accompanying the scandal surrounding Shohei Ohtani and his

formerex-

interpreter Ippei Mizuhara.

The confusion it caused among the Dodgers fan base. The distractions it threatened to create for the team. The way it could all impact Ohtanis play individually, in particular, in the first season of his 10-year, $700

–

million contract, given how integral Mizuhara was in his daily training and preparation routines.

Thats his personal life, teammate Freddie Freeman said of the situation, which has seen Ohtani accuse Mizuhara, his longtime interpreter and close friend, of stealing money from Ohtanis bank account to pay off gambling debts to an allegedly illegal bookmaker.

Thats a lot [to handle], Freeman said.

On Tuesday, however, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts pointed to what he argued could be at least one silver lining.

As far as baseball-related communications with Ohtani are concerned, a buffer, as Roberts described it, has been removed from the equation with Mizuharas firing last week.

ThoughWhere

Mizuhara was viewed as a gatekeeper between Ohtani and

Dodgers

players and staff

ers

,

according to multiple people not authorized to speak publicly about the Dodgers’ internal dynamics

, there might now be more open lines of dialogue between Ohtani and his new team.

I would argue that it’s gonna help relations internally, Roberts said, a day after Ohtani addressed the situation publicly for the first time. I’ve already seen it. You know, the last couple of days, I think Shohei has been even more engaging with his teammates. And I think there’s only upside with that.

Perhaps this is nothing more than a convenient, and exaggerated, narrative; some sort of revisionist history meant to spin some

partsaspects

of the last weeks events as a potential positive in the long run.

BeforePrior to

the gambling and theft allegations against Mizuhara, after all, club officials werent raising alarms about their ability to communicate with Ohtani. Before last week, no one had publicly flagged issues with Mizuharas role in communicating with the teams star offseason addition.

However, its no secret that interactions with Ohtani differed from

that of

other players.

Going back to his time with the Angels, Mizuhara played an outsized role in how Ohtani engaged with his teams over the years.

Previously, that had largely been viewed as a good or, at least, necessary dynamic. Ohtani had a trusted

adviseradvisor

who ensured no exchanges with teammates or coaching staff members would get lost in translation, the thinking went. Mizuhara was seen as a close friend who not only understood the complexities of Ohtanis life as an international superstar, but had seen the two-way talents popularity explode first-hand.

Former Angels manager Joe Maddon once reportedly told a Japanese outlet that the pair meshed together like “peanut butter and jelly.

In a story in the Athletic in 2023

, Mizuhara described his trust factor with Ohtani as such a big part of his job.We are together pretty much every day, longer than Im with my wife, Mizuhara said then. So its going to be tough if you dont get along on a personal level.

It was with Mizuhara by his side that Ohtani emerged as arguably the sports best player.

Right up until Mizuharas firing last week, his bond with Ohtani was believed to be a key asset.

The unusual part of the arrangement, people around the Dodgers have recounted in recent days, is how staunchly Mizuhara acted like a barrier to the two-time MVP even in interactions around Ohtanis new clubhouse.

It was difficult, Roberts said bluntly when asked if his coaching staff had to relay baseball-related dialogue to Ohtani through Mizuhara. It was difficult. Yeah.

Multiple staff members said they were never directly instructed, by either club executives or anyone in Ohtanis camp, to go through Mizuhara with thoughts, advice or questions related to his game. They were never outwardly barred from approaching Ohtani himself.

However, the assumption among Dodgers staff was that Ohtani preferred such a second-hand system. He operated under seemingly similar circumstances during his time with the Angels. And staffers were still conscientious of the fact English isnt the 29-year-olds first language.

It was tough to adjust away from, with the language barrier, one person said.

Thats why, in the wake of Mizuharas firing last Wednesday, the Dodgers have been pleasantly surprised with what hitting coach Aaron Bates described as a pretty seamless transition, communication-wise.

Ohtani and Dodgers coaches have conversed more directly in the dugout and the clubhouse, according to multiple coaches. Theyve talked with Ohtani in English more often of late than they did when Mizuhara was present.

I think that we’re all going to be surprised how much English he knows, Roberts said with a telling grin. And I think that’s a good thing.

Additionally, Ohtanis acting interpreter, Will Ireton, is a longtime Dodgers baseball operations staff member. Formerly the interpreter for Kenta Maeda before becoming manager of performance operations, Iretons communication skills have received rave reviews from people across the organization.

Will is a secret weapon, Roberts said. I’m telling you, this guy is as selfless as a person as you’re gonna find.

The Dodgers, of course, are only one week into this new reality. A few days of functional communication with Ohtani doesnt mean unforeseen problems wont arise in Mizuharas absence.

But, in search of any optimistic story lines in the wake of the ongoing scandal, Roberts was adamant about at least this one.

I do think that it’s an opportunity, Roberts said of the teams budding relationship with Ohtani, for us to kind of really support him from everywhere.