"Shohei Ohtani might have a relationship with them" - When Joe Rogan insinuated Yakuza's connection to Dodgers star's translater stealing $4.5 million

Japanese superstar Shohei Ohtani's free agency shook the baseball world last offseason as the two-way phenom signed a record-breaking $700 million deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

However, the start of his tenure with the NL West team couldn't have started on a worse note. While Ohtani was preparing for his MLB debut with the Dodgers, news reports emerged that his translator and then-close friend, Ippei Mizuhara, stole the Japanese slugger's bank accounts to cover his gambling debt.

Initially, Ohtani's camp reported that the two-time MVP had helped Mizuhara by lending him money to cover his debt. However, Mizuhara and Ohtani's representatives confirmed that the Japanese star was unaware of his translator's gambling debt and was a victim of theft. According to initial reports in March, Mizuhara stole $4.5 million from Ohtani's account.

The drama unfolded in March earlier this year and renowned podcaster Joe Rogan had an unorthodox take on the whole scenario, hypothesizing Ohtani's connection to the Yakuza.

American podcaster Joe Rogan discussed the incident in an April 4 episode of his podcast "The Joe Rogan Experience" with guest stand-up comic Brian Simpson. (0:40 onwards)

"Let me ask you this. Do you think that the situation with someone like that (Shohei Ohtani) who comes from another country?" Rogan asked. "Do you think that maybe organized crime comes with him a little bit? a little bit like Yakuza action?......He might have a you know meaningful relationship with those people."

Simpson, Rogan's guest, argued that if Ohtani is worth that much money, he is not being exploited by the mob or the Yakuza.

"Shohei Ohtani might have a relationship with them (Yakuza)," Rogan responded (1:40). "Yeah, you know what I'm saying? I mean, I'm not saying he does, but I'm saying that in certain situations, like, if you get in bed with organized crime and they help you in your career, like there was always insinuations that Frank Sinatra was involved in the mob, for instance."

While Rogan and his guest hypothesized about Shohei Ohtani's potential relationship with organized crime, they felt something was "fishy" about Ippei Mizuhara's access to the Dodgers star's bank accounts. The disgraced translator later admitted to defrauding Ohtani of over $16 million.

Shohei Ohtani set to receive baseball cards purchased by Ippei Mizuhara

Shohei Ohtani fired Ippei Mizuhara after the news broke of theft. The latter pleaded guilty to fraud in June and is awaiting sentencing in a federal court in January next year.

While Mizuhara is awaiting sentencing, Shohei Ohtani's camp asked for the ownership of baseball cards worth $325,000 purchased by his extranslator on his behalf when he signed for the Dodgers.

According to the latest report, the cards will be returned to Shohei Ohtani after the sentencing of his former interpreter.