Expect Shohei Ohtani’s interpreter to be around the Los Angeles Dodgers star for the foreseeable future.
Despite his noticeable improvement in his command of the English language, the Dodgers superstar still wants interpreter Will Ireton by his side, via Fredo Cervantes of The Sporting Tribune.
“I still need him because there might be some bullies out there that might give me some weird questions that I’m sure he can handle,” Ohtani told reporters recently during Los Angeles’ spring training at Camelback Ranch in Phoenix, Ariz., as translated by Ireton.
That was surely music to the ears of Ireton as well, as he doesn’t have to worry about his job security.
Ireton has been the two-time National League Most Valuable Player’s interpreter since 2024, taking over the job left by Ippei Mizuhara, who was fired amid accusations of theft.
Ireton has been with the Dodgers organization since 2016 and served as former LA pitcher Kenta Maeda’s interpreter and as a member of the Oklahoma City Comets’ (Los Angeles’ Triple-A affiliate) coaching staff.
Ohtani’s actions on the field will always speak louder than words, and he will look to help the Dodgers pull off a three-peat in the 2026 MLB season. In two years with the Dodgers, the Japanese superstar has hit .296/.391/.634 with 109 home runs and 232 RBIs across 1,458 plate appearances.
