Imago
Credits: MLB.COM
Imago
Credits: MLB.COM
On the diamond, Shohei Ohtani hit his 42nd homer of the season and is on course to win his 4th MVP. And unlike last season, the two-way phenom is regularly pitching as well. But off the field, a new pitch is flying. A lawsuit over a multimillion-dollar real estate deal on Hawaii’s Big Island.
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In a surprising turn of events, Hawaii real estate investor Kevin J. Hayes Sr. and broker Tomoko Matsumoto filed a lawsuit in Hawaii Circuit Court on August 8. This lawsuit has brought attention not only to a stunning $240 million development but also to the towering figure behind its branding: the LA Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani and his agent, Nez Balelo.
Per the lawsuit filed on Friday, “Balelo and Otani[sic], who were brought into the venture solely for Otani’s promotional and branding value, exploited their celebrity leverage to destabilize and ultimately dismantle Plaintiffs’ role in the project — for no reason other than their own financial self-interest.”
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The plaintiffs allege that two project partners were forced out due to behind-the-scenes manipulation, claiming tortious interference and unjust enrichment. Developer Hayes, with 40 years of experience, and Matsumoto, who was supposed to be the listing agent for the houses averaging $17.3 million each, were allegedly asked for concessions by Balelo. Ohtani’s agent then allegedly demanded that their business partner, Kingsbarn Realty Capital—a real estate investment firm—remove them from the project. Hayes and Matsumoto also claim that Ohtani and Balelo sought to interfere with their stake in a second nearby project.
“This case is about abuse of power,” the lawsuit says with confidence. “Defendants used threats and baseless legal claims to force a business partner to betray its contractual obligations and strip Plaintiffs of the very project they conceived and built.”
In marketing brochures, Ohtani was called ‘Japan’s Babe Ruth’ and the ‘1st Resident.’ He was also offered Hapuna Beach, rated the #1 beach in America by Conde Nast Traveler, along with two golf courses—one designed by Arnold Palmer and the other by Robert Trent Jones Sr. The 3x MVP was supposed to build a private hitting-and-pitching facility and be the celebrity face that would drive sales, especially among Japanese luxury buyers.
Hayes and Matsumoto say that the aftermath isn’t just bad for their reputations; it’s also bad for their money. The lawsuit says, “Plaintiffs stand to lose millions of dollars in compensation tied to projected homebuilding profit, construction management fees, and broker commissions.” The lawsuit also states that Kingsbarn “openly admitted during the call that Balelo had demanded the terminations and that they were being done solely to placate him.”
These charges are a major shift for Shohei Ohtani, who has portrayed himself as baseball’s most humble superstar. So far, neither Ohtani nor his agent, Balelo, has issued any statement. The real question now — and one that fans everywhere are waiting to see answered — is whether these claims hold weight.
Written by
Edited by
Saubhagya Mukherjee