FILE PHOTO: Ippei Mizuhara, an interpreter for Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani, is seen at an introductory news conference at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California, December 14, 2023. Photo: Kirby Lee/USA TODAY Sports via Reuters

LOS ANGELES (AP) – Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani’s former longtime translator agreed Friday to undergo court-ordered treatment for gambling addiction after federal prosecutors accused him of stealing $16 million from a Japanese baseball player to pay off debts .

TO WATCH: Shohei Ohtani’s former translator charged with stealing $16 million from baseball star in sports betting case

Ippei Mizuhara’s initial appearance in federal court was the translator’s first public appearance since the scandal broke last month.

Hours after Friday’s game from the field at Dodger Stadium, Ohtani said he was “very grateful” for the investigation and would focus on baseball in the future.

Mizuhara used his personal and professional relationship with Ohtani to plunder millions of dollars from the two-way player’s account over the years, sometimes impersonating Ohtani to bankers, prosecutors say.

He faces up to 30 years in prison for one count of bank fraud.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Maria A. Audero ordered Mizuhara to seek treatment as a condition of bail in the sports betting case. Michael G. Freedman, the translator’s lawyer, said his client planned to do it anyway.

Although he is best known as Ohtani’s voice on courthouses across the country, Mizuhara did not speak until Friday to answer the judge’s questions, answering “yes” when Audero asked if he understood several parts of the case.

Mizuhara hopes to “reach an agreement with the government to resolve this matter as quickly as possible so that it can accept responsibility,” Freedman said in a statement after the hearing.

He added that his client “wants to apologize to Mr. Ohtani, the Dodgers, Major League Baseball and his family.”

The complaint filed Thursday detailed the alleged scheme through evidence that included text messages, financial records and phone records. Mizuhara’s winning bets totaled more than $142 million, which he deposited into his own bank account, not Ohtani’s. However, his losing bets totaled approximately $183 million, a net loss of almost $41 million. He didn’t bet on baseball.

Other bail conditions stipulate that Mizuhara cannot gamble, either electronically or in person, enter any gambling establishments or engage with well-known bookmakers.

Mizuhara was released after the hearing on a $25,000 unsecured bond, commonly known as a signature bond, meaning he did not have to post any cash or security to be released. If he violates bail conditions, he faces a $25,000 fine.

The judge noted his family ties and longtime residence in the Los Angeles area, and his surrender Friday morning when she approved bail. She also mentioned that he had no criminal record.

Although Ohtani’s name was never mentioned during the hearing, his presence was clearly visible during the roughly 10-minute proceedings in a courtroom packed with the mostly Japanese press. The judge and prosecutor only briefly called the baseball star a “victim.”

But a few hours later, Ohtani spoke to the Los Angeles Times before the team’s game against the San Diego Padres about the controversy, saying he was very grateful for the Justice Department’s investigation.

“For me personally, it means taking a break from it and I would like to focus on baseball,” he told the newspaper through a new translator.

In a group interview with reporters after the Dodgers’ 8-7 loss to the San Diego Padres in 11 innings, Ohtani did not answer questions about the investigation.

A Dodgers public relations official said, “We’re talking about baseball.”

TO WATCH: How baseball’s biggest star becomes involved in an investigation into gambling and theft

Authorities said there was no evidence that Ohtani was involved in or knew about Mizuhara’s gambling, and the player was cooperating with investigators.

MLB rules prohibit players and team employees from betting on baseball games, even legally. MLB also bans betting on other sports with illegal or foreign bookmakers.

Last month, the Los Angeles Times and ESPN broke the news of the accusation, prompting the Dodgers to fire their translator and MLB to launch its own investigation.

On Friday before the game against the Padres, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said he was happy Ohtani was not involved in the case and everyone could move on. He added that he did not see the investigation impacting Ohtani or anyone else on the team.

“He handled it with flying colors. He did a great job of just focusing on the game of baseball and not letting it distract him,” Roberts said. “Our guys also did really well in terms of noise that didn’t affect the game.

“I think for us, we’re already past that, to be quite honest with you. He approached us earlier, we felt good about it and supported him. Nothing has changed,” Roberts said.

Ohtani proved Roberts right a few hours later by hitting his 175th MLB home run, tying Hideki Matsui for the most by a Japanese-born player.