Bowyer’s relationship with Mizuhara began in 2021, when they met through a mutual friend in San Diego after a Padres game, the source said. They were in a hotel lobby and Mizuhara was placing a bet on his cellphone with another bookie.

The friend overheard Mizuhara, walked over and said, “This is the guy you need to be betting with,” and introduced him to Bowyer, according to the source.

ESPN has reported that Mizuhara and Bowyer met in 2021 at a San Diego poker game.

At first, Mizuhara started betting small on international soccer, basketball and football — never baseball. As the losses grew, so did the bets. But Mizuhara regularly paid his losses, a source said.

‘Never spoke with Ohtani’

“Mr. Bowyer never spoke with Ohtani. The only person he ever dealt with was Mr. Mizuhara,” said Bowyer’s attorney, Diane Bass, adding that they communicated through texts or verbally.

But Bowyer didn’t mind if people thought he was taking bets for Ohtani.

“When (Bowyer) heard Ohtani’s name was on one of the wire transfers for Mizuhara’s debt, he didn’t shy away from boasting Ohtani was his client because he thought it would bring him more business,” the source said.

As part of the investigation, Bowyer’s 4,500-square-foot home not far from Mission San Juan Capistrano was raided by federal agents in October. No charges have been filed.

Filed for bankruptcy in 2011

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