SANTA ANA, Calif. — The former interpreter for Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani pleaded guilty to bank and tax fraud on Tuesday and admitted to stealing nearly $17 million from the Japanese baseball player to pay off sports betting debts.

Ippei Mizuhara ’s crimes stunned the baseball world, shattering his image as Ohtani’s shadow at ballparks around the U.S. He entered his guilty plea in federal court in Santa Ana, California.

The ex-interpreter had exploited his personal and professional relationship with Ohtani to plunder millions from the two-way player’s account for years, at times impersonating Ohtani to bankers. Mizuhara signed a plea agreement that detailed the allegations on May 5, and prosecutors announced it several days later.

Mizuhara’s attorney declined to comment outside the courthouse. Mizuhara spoke briefly in court acknowledging his guilt. “I worked for victim A and had access to his bank account and had fallen into major gambling debt,” he told the court. “I went ahead and wired money … with his bank account.”

There was no evidence Ohtani was involved in or aware of Mizuhara’s gambling, and the player cooperated with investigators, authorities said.

Martin Estrada, U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California, said after the hearing that Ohtani was particularly vulnerable.

“Mr. Ohtani is an immigrant who came to this country, is not familiar with the ways of this country and therefore was easily prey to someone who was more familiar with our financial systems,” said Estrada, adding that his office has established a Vulnerable Victims Task Force to look at fraud against older adults and immigrant groups.

Mizuhara faces numerous consequences including possibly being deported to Japan, Estrada said.

Ohtani expressed relief after the hearing and thanked his team, family and the Dodger organization “who showed endless support throughout this process. It’s time to close this chapter, move on and continue to focus on playing and winning ballgames.”

RANGERS: Max Scherzer threw 40 pitches to hitters and expressed hope that he can begin a rehab assignment soon.

“Got to recover well from this,” Scherzer said. “Make sure my thumb is OK as I ramp back up into this. As long as I check that box, hopefully I can get out there on rehab.”

Manager Bruce Bochy, who watched the session from behind home plate, echoed the three-time Cy Young Award winner’s optimism.

“We’ll check on him tomorrow, a good chance he will start his rehab possibly,” Bochy said. “I think that’s the way it’s leaning right now.”

Pitching coach Mike Maddux watched from behind the mound, while owner Ray Davis and General Manager Chris Young were among team spectators in the dugout.

Scherzer had surgery in mid-December to repair a herniated disk in his lower back. The 39-year-old right-hander pitched one rehab outing on April 24 with Triple-A Round Rock, throwing 52 pitches. He was scratched from a second start because of right thumb soreness that team doctors later identified as a nerve issue that extended to his right triceps.

YANKEES: Gerrit Cole pitched 3 1/3 shutout innings for Double-A Somerset in his first minor league rehab start since being sidelined in spring training by a right elbow injury.

The reigning AL Cy Young Award winner struck out five of the 11 batters he faced and walked none against the Hartford Yard Goats, a Colorado Rockies affiliate. He allowed two hits and threw 45 pitches, 34 for strikes.

TWINS: Minnesota reinstated third baseman Royce Lewis from the injured list after a 58-game absence caused by a severely strained right quadriceps muscle.

Lewis played in six games on a rehab assignment with Triple-A St. Paul, going 4 for 23 with a double, a walk and eight strikeouts.

Lewis will enter the three-game series in New York against the Yankees with a perfect 1.000 batting average, having homered and singled in his first two at-bats of the season before getting hurt running the bases on March 28 at Kansas City.

The first overall pick in the 2017 draft has been limited to 71 games with the Twins. He tore the ACL in his right knee while working out before the 2021 season and suffered the same injury in 2022 just 12 games into his major league career on a collision with the outfield wall while tracking a fly ball.

FUTURES GAME: Former Texas Rangers teammates Adrian Beltré and Michael Young will be managers for the All-Star Futures Game on July 13 at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas.

Beltré will lead the AL team and Young the NL team, Major League Baseball said. Players for the game are drawn from affiliates of the 30 MLB teams.

Scheduled for induction into the Hall of Fame next month, the 45-year-old Beltré is a four-time All-Star and five-time Gold Glove third baseman. He hit .286 with 477 homers and 1,707 RBI for the Los Angeles Dodgers (1998-2004), Seattle (2005-09), Boston (2010) and Texas (2011-18).

Young, 47, batted .300 with 185 homers and 1,030 RBI for Texas (2000-12), Philadelphia (2013) and the Dodgers (2013).

PHILLIES: Manager Rob Thomson says No. 5 starter Taijuan Walker will remain in the rotation ahead of surprise free-agent success story Spencer Turnbull as the team chases an NL East title.

The Phillies entered Tuesday’s game with Milwaukee with the best record in the National League and tied with the New York Yankees for best in baseball at 42-19.

Anchored by Zack Wheeler and Aaron Nola, the rotation has been among the strongest in baseball. The Phillies led MLB in ERA (2.71), innings pitched (362 1/3 innings) and strikeout rate (24.9%) ahead of the Brewers game.

The 31-year-old Walker has been the only sore point. The right-hander is in the second year of a four-year, $72-million contract and is 3-1 with a 5.73 ERA in seven starts. He has not pitched into the seventh inning of any of his last five starts.

Walker – who won 15 games a year ago but did not pitch in the postseason as the Phillies reached the NL Championship Series – allowed four runs in five inning and took a no-decision in the Phillies’ extra-inning loss to St. Louis.

Turnbull overall is 3-0 with a 2.64 ERA in 13 games. Turnbull can earn $2 million in performance bonuses for starts and innings as part of his $2 million, one-year contract.