The fourth season is now in full swing in the Los Angeles Angels of Major League Baseball Ohtani Shohei has returned from a major elbow injury and is now showing his skills as a two-way player. His interpreter Mizuhara Ippei is a key member of the team supporting the pitcher from the beginning, serving in roles beyond his duties as a linguist.
Being a two-way athlete is more than just a one-man show. In the shadow of the popularity of Los Angeles Angels star Ohtani Shohei, his interpreter is Mizuhara Ippei.
In the course of Ohtani’s Major League Baseball career and how much does ippei mizuhara make so far, Mizuhara has been close to the sidelines, playing a low-profile support role in the is attempting to alter the records. But he was thrust unexpectedly into the spotlight during the MLB All-Star Game when Ohtani became one of the very first Japanese player to take part in the Home Run Derby, tapped Mizuhara as his catcher. The Angels published a photo of Mizuhara who has never played organized baseball, sitting in front of home plate, on their official Instagram account amusement of the fans who were enthralled by the decision of Ohtani.
Ohtani was quoted as saying that , after having worked with Mizuhara for five years with his team, the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters, his former Nippon Professional Baseball team, is extremely confident in Mizuhara and is happy by having him as his interpreter.
Mizuhara arrived in his home in the United States in February 2018 along with Ohtani to assist him in his preparation for the big leagues. Since then, he’s become a sort of unheralded hero who has assisted Ohtani in a variety of different areas. In addition to providing interpreters for Ohtani in his talks with his US press, Mizuhara helps the young star communicate effectively with his coach and manager and acts as a assistant to look over his batting and pitching footage and assists in various aspects of his training.
Mizuhara is unable to define the relationship he has with Ohtani. “My first priority is to help create an environment where he can concentrate on baseball,” Mizuhara says. This includes helping to facilitate conversations in the baseball field and also ensuring an atmosphere of relaxation during idle time. This usually means joining Ohtani during long hours of video games. They’re also often seen together at a Japanese BBQ restaurant located in the Anaheim suburbs. The 2018 All-Stars break, they took a trip to Universal Studios in a group to unwind. “We’re kind of like friends,” Mizuhara said. Mizuhara, “but more like partners.”
A Part of the Team
Mizuhara’s previous position was translator for Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters. There he got to know Ohtani who was an undrafted player in the year 2013. Mizuhara was born in Tomakomai in Hokkaido however, he attended high school as well as a college within Los Angeles, owing to his father’s job. As of 2010, Mizuhara played the role of interpreter the pitching of player Okajima Hideki during his stint with the Boston Red Sox. His stint for the Angels is his second time with the Major Leagues.
With Ohtani being a hot topic as the first player to play two ways ever since Babe Ruth a century earlier The interest in Mizuhara has never been greater. Mizuhara has naturally grown. He is now a popular part of the team, and has even made appearances on Angels’ Instagram account.
But, his serious character is a perfect victim of pranks from friends. When Ohtani was awarded the Rookie of the Award and he grabbed Mizuhara’s arms and lifted it to make a pose. Mizuhara was shocked by the gesture, claiming that Ohtani seemed to make it appear as if they’d won the award together. “I was so embarrassed,” Mizuhara admitted laughing. “Ohtani probably did it just to get a reaction.”
The jeers did not end there. Mizuhara then attended the award ceremony at the home of the team, Angel Stadium, wearing an embroidered T-shirt bearing the image of the pitcher. On the next day, he revealed that teammates were behind it, laughing the idea that “they’re having a good time over me wearing the strange shirt. It made me appear like a clown but it’s not who I am.”
Ohtani’s first foray into the world of a two-way player has been smooth this season, however COVID-19 put his routine out of whack in the past year, after it was announced that the California State government issued a stay-at home order, which restricted the time and place he could exercise. Mizuhara recalls that he was the majority of his days at home but would catch with Ohtani to bike around the stadium to do aerobic fitness. “I couldn’t keep up,” Mizuhara says. “He pedals too fast.”
In the course of the pandemic during the pandemic, the two played game of catch in the stadium’s parking lot. Mizuhara claims that, regardless of the situation, those encounters allowed both interpreters and players to stay calm during a stressful period. Mizuhara was married in 2018 however, he admits to his wife that he spends the most time with Ohtani than his family.
Boosted by Ohtani’s Constant Positivity
One of Ohtani’s most notable qualities is his capacity to stay positive regardless of what life throws at him, and chalk it to the experience. Mizuhara states his explanation that “it’s not that he’s over-confident, but I never hear him complain.” As the closest friend, Mizuhara shares in Ohtani’s difficulties, but he adds that Ohtani’s optimism lifts him.
In the first year of Ohtani’s career in the MLB and received a diagnosis of an injury to the ulnar collateral ligament in his elbow pitching arm. After several attempts to treat the issue were unsuccessful, in September 2018, he was advised by doctors to have Tommy John surgery to repair the ligament. It was a significant procedure that would leave him inactive for a prolonged period. As a player who worked alongside Ohtani and observed his dedication firsthand, Mizuhara took the news personally. But, Ohtani, unphased, was able to score four hits and hit two homes in the next game.
Mizuhara states that Ohtani learned about the operation during a phone conversation with the then General manager Billy Eppler. “Naturally the player initially was not thrilled. He’d just returned to his batting technique as he was undergoing rehabilitation for his elbow which was an emotional experience.” But He explains Ohtani immediately agreed to the move. “He did not show any signs of sadness and continued to give his all. His attitude was awe-inspiring and convinced me that I shouldn’t get too upset.”
Ohtani was undergoing Tommy John surgery at the conclusion of the season in 2018. He also underwent an operation on the left side of his knee during the new year. “My main hope was that he would be in better condition after the procedures,” says Mizuhara. To meet to these expectations, Ohtani has steadily recovered and then was back on the field in a complete two-way player. He put up one of the best performances of his career.
Mizuhara’s job as interpreter been praised by Angels Manager Joe Maddon. The season was a success because Maddon concentrated on a close relationship with Ohtani. While praising Mizuhara in his interview, he stated that “Ippei is a key player. He is able to communicate every nuance. I am aware of how Shohei is feeling about certain things.”
The main thing that allows Mizuhara to be able to perform work is trust he’s built with Ohtani. They have been on the same page and yet Mizuhara is a bit stoic about his job, at one point declaring, “I’m not sure that I’m backing Ohtani. I really don’t believe it matters the person who did my job.”
He quietly performs his job and is careful not to highlight the trust they have in their relationship. When answering questions from journalists, he occasionally accidentally leaves out a portion of the answer, or mistakes which the pitcher laughs at. Maintaining a friendly atmosphere can only be achieved when two people are completely in agreement with each other.
(Originally published originally in Japanese. Banner image: Mizuhara Ippei acts as the catcher while Ohtani Shohei gets his turn in the bat in the All-Star Game Home Run Derby on July 12, 2021 at Denver, Colorado. (c) USA Today/Reuters/Kyodo. )
