ESPN today announced The Betrayal of Shohei Ohtani, the newest installment in its acclaimed 30 for 30 Podcasts series, will premiere July 28. Hosted by ESPN investigative reporter Tisha Thompson, the six-part series examines one of the biggest scandals in baseball history and the collapse of the relationship between Shohei Ohtani and his longtime interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara.
Since arriving in the United States from Japan, Ohtani has become one of the most recognizable athletes in the world, redefining what is possible on the baseball field as both a pitcher and designated hitter. Ahead of the 2024 season, he signed a 10-year, $700 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers, the largest deal in professional sports at the time.
A couple months before Ohtani signed that deal, Thompson received a tip involving millions of dollars transferred from Ohtani’s bank account to an illegal bookmaking operation. As Ohtani prepared to take the field for his first season in Los Angeles, Mizuhara, Ohtani’s longtime interpreter, told Thompson that Ohtani had helped him pay off his gambling debts — only for the story to change dramatically within the next 24 hours. After Mizuhara admitted to stealing more than $16 million from Ohtani, questions quickly emerged about how one of sports’ most trusted relationships had unraveled.
From 30 for 30 Podcasts, The Betrayal of Shohei Ohtani digs deeper into the extraordinary story behind the headlines, revealing new details about Mizuhara’s childhood and background and featuring, for the first time, audio from the only interview he gave about the scandal.
The series also includes extensive access to Mathew Bowyer, who ran one of the largest illegal bookmaking businesses in the country and offers unique insight into Mizuhara’s gambling activity. Additionally, Thompson interviews three federal agents involved in prosecuting the case, including an exclusive with the IRS agent who reviewed the bank transfers and communications between Mizuhara and Bowyer, as well as text messages between Mizuhara and Ohtani.
Episodes one and two — “The Letter O” and “The Interview” — will debut July 28, followed by episodes dropping every Tuesday and Thursdays through August 11.
The Betrayal of Shohei Ohtani and all of ESPN’s 30 for 30 Podcasts can be found on ESPN.com, the ESPN App, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, YouTube, iHeart and wherever podcasts are available.
Episode Guide
- July 28 – Episode 1: The Letter O
- July 28 – Episode 2: The Interview
- July 30 – Episode 3: Baseball Boy
- August 4 – Episode 4: The Bookie
- August 6 – Episode 5: The Feds
- August 11 – Episode 6: Footnote
About ESPN 30 for 30 Podcasts
30 for 30 Podcasts, from ESPN Films and ESPN Audio, are original audio documentaries from the makers of the acclaimed 30 for 30 film series. Telling sports stories like you’ve never heard before, through a combination of original reporting and archival sound, 30 for 30 Podcasts goes beyond the field to explore how sports, competition, athleticism and adventure affect our lives and our world. The series has been recognized by the NYF International Radio Awards, the Webby Awards, and the RTDNA Kaleidoscope Awards, as well as inclusion on numerous “best-of” lists from press outlets such as The Atlantic, Vulture, TIME and Entertainment Weekly. Episodes have been featured on NPR, 99% Invisible, Slate Podcasts and more. For more, visit 30for30podcasts.com.
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ESPN media contacts: alex.feuz@espn.com.