Shohei Ohtani faces $240M Hawaii lawsuit as Dodgers star stays hot amid tight playoff race.
Shohei Ohtani Faces Unfortunate News on Monday originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Shohei Ohtani is facing a lawsuit in Hawaii over an allegation, as per which, the Los Angeles Dodgers superstar and his agent, Nez Balelo, sabotaged a $240 million luxury housing project. Filed on Friday in Hawaii Circuit Court, the suit claims the two used Ohtani’s celebrity status to force developer Kevin J. Hayes Sr. and real estate broker Tomoko Matsumoto out of The Vista at Mauna Kea Resort, a high-end development planned for the Big Island’s Hapuna Coast.
According to the complaint, Ohtani was brought in solely for his “promotional and branding value” but allegedly exploited that leverage. “Defendants used threats and baseless legal claims to force a business partner to betray its contractual obligations,” the lawsuit claims, adding that Ohtani and Balelo acted “for no reason other than their own financial self-interest.”
Hayes and Matsumoto, who spent over a decade developing the project, say the move stripped them of their roles.
The promotional materials for the venture had labeled Ohtani as 'Japan’s Babe Ruth' and '1st Resident,' noting his commitment to buying one of the 14 planned residences and promoting the project to the Japanese luxury vacation home market.
Shohei Ohtani and his agent Nez Balelo are being sued by a Hawaii real estate investor for allegedly sabotaging a $240 million real estate project, per @The_Japan_Newspic.twitter.com/U0hgSOks6k
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) August 12, 2025
Balelo’s agency, CAA Baseball, declined to comment, while the plaintiffs say this case is “about abuse of power.”
Ohtani’s Hot Streak Overshadowed by Dodgers’ Struggles
Ohtani’s power surge continues, with homers in three straight games and four in his last five, tying Kyle Schwarber for the NL lead at 42. He’s also riding a 10-game hitting streak. But his efforts haven’t stopped the Dodgers’ slide, now 10-12 since the All-Star break.
Monday’s 7-4 loss to the Angels, following a blown lead against Toronto, cut their NL West lead over San Diego to just one game. Even top starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto faltered, giving up six runs. The Dodgers face back-to-back weekend series against the Padres, with urgency rising inside the clubhouse.
Related: Calls Mount for Umpire’s Firing After Dodgers' Loss to Angels on Monday
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Aug 12, 2025, where it first appeared.
Category: General Sports
