Will Ireton, manager of performance operations for the Los Angeles Dodgers and current interpreter for Shohei Ohtani, pictured at Dodger Stadium. (Photo courtesy of Los Angeles Dodgers / MLB Press)
Will Ireton, a Filipino-Japanese former baseball player, now serves as Shohei Ohtani’s trusted interpreter for the Los Angeles Dodgers, bridging language and culture within Major League Baseball.
LOS ANGELES — When Shohei Ohtani takes the field for the Los Angeles Dodgers, millions follow his every move. Standing beside him is another key figure who helps make that connection possible: Will Ireton, the Filipino-Japanese American interpreter who now serves as Ohtani’s link to the English-speaking world of Major League Baseball.
Quiet, precise, and trusted within the Dodgers clubhouse, Ireton represents a new generation of multicultural professionals shaping the global side of America’s pastime.
A Filipino heart, a Japanese discipline
Born in Tokyo to a Japanese American father and a Filipina mother, William Ireton moved to Honolulu, Hawaii, at age 15 and attended Mid-Pacific Institute.
He later studied at Occidental College in Los Angeles and graduated valedictorian from Menlo College in 2012, where he played collegiate baseball as an infielder.
In 2012, he joined the Philippines national baseball team, competing in the World Baseball Classic qualifiers, a milestone that marked his first time representing his mother’s homeland abroad.
From Maeda to Ohtani
Ireton entered the Dodgers organization in 2016 as interpreter for Japanese pitcher Kenta Maeda, quickly earning a reputation for professionalism and discretion.
He later moved into the club’s performance operations and analytics group, helping coaches and players translate data into on-field strategy.
After longtime interpreter Ippei Mizuhara, who had worked with Ohtani since his Major League debut and was dismissed in March 2024 amid a high-profile financial investigation, the Dodgers designated Ireton to serve as Shohei Ohtani’s interpreter.
His background in analytics and communication made him the natural choice for one of the most visible support roles in sports.
Bridging two worlds
Fluent in both Japanese and English, Ireton has become an indispensable conduit between cultures inside the Dodgers clubhouse.
Colleagues describe him as steady, perceptive, and culturally fluent, someone who understands the precision of Japanese baseball and the expressive energy of American dugouts.
Beyond translation, he continues to assist in data and player-integration work, a dual role that underscores his versatility.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has described him publicly as a “secret weapon” within the organization, a testament to his value behind the scenes.
Carrying the Filipino flag in Major League Baseball
Filipino representation in Major League Baseball remains rare, giving Ireton’s presence special meaning for communities across California and the Philippines.
Fans see in him the possibility that cultural roots and professional excellence can thrive together.
Ireton seldom seeks attention, but his steady rise from Tokyo classrooms to the Dodgers dugout reflects how heritage and humility can coexist with achievement at the highest level of sport.
The quiet link behind baseball’s biggest star
As Shohei Ohtani continues to make history in Los Angeles, Will Ireton stands beside him ensuring every message, gesture, and nuance crosses the language divide.
In the rhythm of baseball, he embodies the essence of true translation, not merely words but understanding.
In that quiet space between two cultures stands a Filipino-Japanese son of two nations, helping the game speak one clear language: baseball.
