According to The Athletic, Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani is set to regain $325,000 worth of baseball cards due to the ongoing legal issues involving him and his former interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara. Between January and March 2024, Mizuhara, 39, purchased these cards online with the intention of reselling them. The cards feature Ohtani's image along with those of Yogi Berra and Juan Soto. Mizuhara pleaded guilty in June to bank and tax fraud after stealing from Ohtani to settle millions of dollars in sports betting debts. He was dismissed by the Dodgers in March and indicted by the federal government in April.

Ohtani's Baseball Cards and Mizuhara's Actions

The story suggests that these cards were likely part of Mizuhara's continued plan to defraud Ohtani. For example, Ohtani once gave Mizuhara a check for a dental bill, but Mizuhara kept the check and paid for the procedure using Ohtani's bank card. It is highly likely that Mizuhara fraudulently paid for these cards with Ohtani's money and intended to sell them himself and keep the profit.Despite the legal troubles, Shohei Ohtani had an extraordinary season in baseball history. At the age of 30, he hit 54 home runs and recorded 59 steals, becoming the first player ever to achieve the 50/50 milestone in a single season. Moreover, he led the Dodgers to their first World Series title since 2020 by defeating the New York Yankees in five games. Unfortunately, Ohtani suffered a torn labrum in his left shoulder during that series. He is expected to be healthy for spring training, but it remains uncertain how this injury will affect his pitching ability in 2025. After recovering from Tommy John surgery, he had a specific rehabilitation program that needed to be adhered to during the offseason, and this setback could potentially delay his recovery.Ohtani's remarkable performance and the legal drama surrounding his baseball cards have captured the attention of baseball fans worldwide. His ability to excel both as a hitter and a pitcher is truly remarkable, and his impact on the Dodgers and the sport of baseball cannot be overstated. As he continues his recovery and prepares for the upcoming season, fans will be eagerly watching his every move.