The Los Angeles Dodgers are entering a rough patch in the 2025 season, just as division rivals San Diego Padres are catching fire. As the pressure mounts on the field, an unexpected off-field headline involving Shohei Ohtani has added to the distractions.
The superstar slugger is now tied to a $240 million civil lawsuit over a luxury real estate development in Hawaii, but early signs suggest it’s unlikely to shake his composure or performance.
The suit, filed in Hawaii Circuit Court, accuses Ohtani and his agent, Nez Balelo, of interfering with a high-end housing project along the Mauna Kea Resort’s Hapuna Coast. According to the plaintiffs, real estate developer Kevin J. Hayes Sr. and broker Tomoko Matsumoto, Ohtani’s name was originally brought into the project for promotional value.
He reportedly agreed to purchase one of the properties for about $17 million. However, the plaintiffs allege that Balelo then demanded increased perks and changes to the project, which led to their removal from the deal.
They claim this interference led to “unjust enrichment” and “intentional disruption,” ultimately costing them their positions in a decade-long development effort.
Kingsbarn Realty Capital, the company overseeing the project, quickly responded, rejecting the claims entirely. In a statement, the firm said the decision to part ways with Hayes and Matsumoto was made internally and had no connection to Ohtani or Balelo.
They described the lawsuit as “completely frivolous and without merit,” affirming that the development is still on track and remains a “world-class” project.
Legal dispute unlikely to distract Ohtani
Importantly, this isn’t a criminal case, and analysts believe Ohtani’s involvement is more symbolic than direct. His primary contribution was lending his global image, something he’s done for multiple brands across industries.
In fact, Ohtani is projected to earn over $100 million in endorsements this year alone, placing him alongside global athletic icons like Lionel Messi, LeBron James, and Cristiano Ronaldo.
This latest civil lawsuit follows last year’s headline-grabbing gambling scandal involving Ohtani’s former interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, who was convicted of stealing millions from the player.
Unlike that ordeal, however, this lawsuit is civil in nature, and analysts including Travis Rodgers and Harry Ruiz believe it’s unlikely to impact Ohtani’s performance or the Dodgers’ locker room atmosphere.
As the Dodgers try to recapture momentum and close the gap in the standings, Ohtani remains laser-focused on baseball. Whether the lawsuit fades quietly or picks up steam legally, it appears, for now, to be just background noise in the life of the baseball star
Read the full article here
