From Agent to Criminal: The Fall of Shohei Ohtani’s Inner Circle Member Nez Balelo

Ohtani’s lead agent Nez Balelo, who served as a liaison between Ohtani and his teammates, coaches, and the media, was also involved in the scandal. The criminal complaint filed against Mizuhara revealed that Balelo often communicated with Ohtani through Mizuhara rather than directly. This reliance on Mizuhara by various parties ultimately compromised the protective fortress that CAA had built around Ohtani, showcasing the vulnerability that existed when one person held so much influence in the player’s inner circle.

CAA made a promise to Dodgers P/DH Shohei Ohtani to provide him with a strong support system that included various professionals such as a bookkeeper, financial manager, accountant, sports marketing expert, and a lead agent. The goal of this support network was to allow Ohtani to focus solely on his hitting and pitching abilities while leaving other responsibilities to the professionals at CAA. However, despite the infrastructure put in place by CAA, former longtime translator Ippei Mizuhara’s behavior was not accounted for. Lindsey Adler of WALL STREET JOURNAL noted that Ohtani’s relationship with Mizuhara held significant power as he served as a liaison for Ohtani with his teammates, coaches and the media. In addition to these roles, Mizuhara also acted as a spokesperson for Ohtani on matters related to CAA.

The criminal complaint filed against Mizuhara highlighted how Balelo often communicated with Ohtani through Mizuhara rather than directly. This reliance on Mizuhara by various parties ultimately compromised the protective fortress that CAA had built around Ohtani, showcasing the vulnerability that existed when one person held so much influence in the player’s inner circle.

The case highlights how important it is for sports organizations and agents to have clear communication channels in place when handling sensitive information about their clients. It also shows how easily things can go wrong when one person holds too much power and influence over another party’s affairs.