Shohei Ohtani says the Ippei Mizuhara incident cost him sleep

After weeks of controversy in his professional and personal life, Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani is finally sleeping better.

His former interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, pleaded not guilty to bank and tax fraud on May 15, a formality ahead of a plea deal he negotiated with federal prosecutors in a wide-ranging sports betting case. Later that night, Ohtani blasted a 446-foot-long driveway into San Francisco’s McCovey Cove, nearly plunging it into the depths. It was the longest home run hit in nearly two years at Oracle Park.

The Dodgers won the game 10-2 against the Giants and Ohtani admitted to the media after the game that he had struggled to properly rest in light of the gambling scandal surrounding his former interpreter.

“At first I obviously didn’t sleep a lot because of the events that were happening, but now I’ve been able to really have a pretty consistent routine and sleep well, so I think that’s leading to good results,” Ohtani told Will Ireton, his new Interpreter.

“I really think as the incidents progressed and I basically did what I could to show that I was OK, and as the incidents progressed and the investigation went on and I started not being involved anymore, that was it Case I can really focus on my sleep and sleep better.”

Despite his lack of restful sleep, Ohtani is off to the best start of his career offensively. In his first 49 games, he hit .356/.425/.655 with 13 home runs, 17 doubles, 13 steals and 34 RBIs.

What about the homer that didn’t splash down?

“I thought I hit one,” he said, “but I was disappointed it didn’t.”

Photo credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

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