SANTA ANA >> The former interpreter for baseball star Shohei Ohtani was sentenced Thursday to nearly five years in prison for bank and tax fraud after he stole nearly $17 million from the Los Angeles Dodgers player’s bank account.

Ippei Mizuhara, who was supposed to bridge the gap between the Japanese athlete and his English-speaking teammates and fans, was sentenced in federal court in Santa Ana to four years and nine months after pleading guilty last year.

He was ordered Thursday to pay $18 million in restitution, with nearly $17 million going to Ohtani and the remainder to the IRS. He was also sentenced to three years’ supervised release on top of the prison sentence and ordered to surrender to authorities by March 24.

Mizuhara addressed the court and apologized to Ohtani, the Los Angeles Dodgers, the government and his family.

Owners install John Seidler as Padres’ control person >> Baseball owners voted to install John Seidler, the oldest brother of the late former Padres chairman Peter Seidler, as the team’s control person.

John Seidler is not yet the trustee of Peter Seidler’s trust; such a move is expected in the coming weeks. But the move by MLB owners does come amid controversy — a lawsuit brought by Peter Seidler’s wife.

Sheel Seidler sued brothers-in-law Matthew and Robert Seidler last month, attempting to prevent John Seidler from taking control of the team. Sheel Seidler alleged Peter Seidler, who died at age 63 on Nov. 14, 2023, wanted her to succeed him as the team’s control person.

Pham joins Pirates >> Outfielder Tommy Pham joined his 10th major league team, agreeing to a one-year deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates worth $4,025,000.

Pham split the 2024 season among the St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago White Sox and Kansas City Royals, hitting .248 with 20 doubles, nine home runs and 39 RBIs.

College athletics

NCAA changes transgender policy >> The NCAA changed its participation policy for transgender athletes, limiting competition in women’s sports to athletes assigned female at birth only.

The move came one day after President Donald Trump signed an executive order intended to ban transgender athletes from girls’ and women’s sports. The order gives federal agencies latitude to withhold federal funding from entities that do not abide by Title IX in alignment with the Trump administration’s view, which interprets “sex” as the gender someone was assigned at birth.

NCAA committee to consider rule for fake injuries >> A proposed rule change intended to discourage players from faking injuries that prompt unwarranted timeouts will be considered when the NCAA Football Rules Committee meets this month.

Feigning injuries, sometimes at the coach’s instruction, has become a tactic defenses use to slow down tempo offenses or as a way for an offense to avoid a delay of game penalty or get an extra timeout.

The American Football Coaches Association submitted a proposal that would require a player who goes down on the field and receives medical attention to sit out the rest of that possession. Currently, the player must go out for one play before re-entering.

Golf

Clark shoots 7-under 64 at Phoenix Open >> Wyndham Clark saved par after hitting his tee shot into the water on the par-4 17th hole and shot a bogey-free 7-under 64 to take a one-shot lead in the first round of the Phoenix Open.

Lee Hodges had two eagles on the back nine — his front — and added three straight birdies starting at No. 1 to shoot 65. He was tied with Taylor Moore, who eagled the par-5 third hole to cap a 7-under stretch in seven holes.

Justin Thomas had six birdies and was among six players who shot 66.

Kupcho, Koerstz Madsen share 1st-round lead >> Jennifer Kupcho shot a 6-under 65 to share the first-round lead with Nanna Koerstz Madsen at the Founders Cup.

Kupcho made the turn at 2 under and shot a bogey-free 4-under 31 on the back nine at Bradenton Country Club.

Lauren Coughlin, a teammate of Kupcho on last year’s winning U.S. Solheim Cup squad, was one shot back along with Jin Hee Im and Angel Yin.