The Dodgers confirmed in a statement that they terminated Ippei Mizuhara, who has been Ohtani’s close friend and interpreter since before he joined the Los Angeles Angels in 2017. ESPN reported Wednesday that Mizuzuhara admitted in an interview to incurring massive gambling debts that Ohtoani paid for him. The allegations caused a stir from the United States to Seoul, where they were opening the season with a global baseball spectacle.