Shohei Ohtani, the star athlete fresh off an incredible World Series victory and an MVP season with the Los Angeles Dodgers, is now embroiled in a legal battle to reclaim a collection of baseball cards worth $325,000 that were fraudulently purchased by his former interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara. Mizuhara, who previously stood by Ohtani’s side as a trusted confidant, pleaded guilty earlier this year to defrauding Ohtani of nearly $17 million.
Ohtani did not take this betrayal lightly and decided to take action by filing a request with the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. The court documents filed on Tuesday detail Ohtani’s plea to regain ownership of the seized sports cards that were taken from Mizuhara by authorities. A hearing on this matter has been scheduled for December 20, where the fate of these coveted collectibles will be decided.
The scandal surrounding Mizuhara’s fraudulent activities came to light when he admitted to bank and tax fraud in June. During the period between January and March 2024, Mizuhara utilized Ohtani’s funds to purchase baseball cards from various online platforms with the intention of reselling them for profit. Ohtani firmly asserts that these cards were bought with his money and thus rightfully belong to him.
In a further twist to the case, Ohtani disclosed to the court the discovery of “a quantity of personally signed collectible baseball cards” featuring his image among Mizuhara’s possessions. These cards were mistakenly included in the seized items, prompting Ohtani to request their return as part of his ongoing petition to reclaim what is rightfully his.
The list of seized items described in the court filings includes collectible sports cards stored in silver and black Panoply cases, collectible sports cards stored in gray Panoply cases, a box containing additional collectible sports cards, a card wrapping device, and plastic card protector holders. These items hold sentimental and financial value to Ohtani, further fueling his resolve to retrieve them from the clutches of deceit.
Mizuhara’s egregious actions not only led to his downfall but also resulted in a severe breach of trust with Ohtani. The Dodgers took swift action, dismissing Mizuhara from his position in March upon learning of his fraudulent schemes. While Mizuhara’s sentencing was initially slated for October 25 and later rescheduled to December 20, it has now been further postponed to January 24, prolonging the legal repercussions of his misdeeds.
As the date for the crucial December 20 hearing approaches, the spotlight remains on Ohtani’s quest to regain ownership of the seized sports cards. This legal battle signifies another chapter in the aftermath of Mizuhara’s betrayal of the trust placed in him by one of baseball’s most prominent figures. Ohtani’s determination to seek justice and reclaim what is rightfully his serves as a testament to his resilience in the face of adversity and deception.
