CAA provided Shohei Ohtani with a support network that included various professionals such as a bookkeeper, financial manager, accountant, sports marketing expert, and lead agent. The goal of this network was to allow Ohtani to focus solely on his hitting and pitching without worrying about other aspects of his career. However, the behavior of Ohtani’s longtime translator, Ippei Mizuhara, was not accounted for in this setup.
Despite the comprehensive support from CAA, Mizuhara’s actions compromised the protective fortress that was built around Ohtani. Mizuhara, who was not only a translator but also a spokesperson for Ohtani in matters related to CAA, wielded significant power in Ohtani’s world. This reliance on Mizuhara as a liaison for Ohtani’s relationships with teammates, coaches, and the media ultimately led to issues within Ohtani’s team.
According to a criminal complaint filed against Mizuhara, Ohtani’s lead agent Nez Balelo did not communicate directly with Ohtani but instead relayed messages through Mizuhara. This dependency on Mizuhara proved to be detrimental to Ohtani and highlighted the vulnerability of the support network that was put in place by CAA.
The incident serves as a lesson in the importance of understanding all potential weaknesses in a support system and ensuring that all individuals involved are trustworthy and accountable. In this case, the trust placed in Mizuhara’s hands proved to be a critical oversight that led to complications in Ohtani’s career management.