The Los Angeles Dodgers are now fighting two battles at one time, both on and off the field. In July, the team found itself finishing with a 10-14 record and ceding ground to the surging San Diego Padres for control of the National League West. Now, they have to deal with another controversy surrounding one of their franchise faces.
Two-way phenom Shohei Ohtani found himself named in a lawsuit from a Hawaii real estate broker and investor on Friday, according to the Associated Press (AP). The suit alleges that the premier player used his influence to get them fired from overseeing a luxury housing development project on the Big Island. It also named Ohtani’s agent, Naz Balelo, for inserting himself into the deal and trying to hijack its execution.
It’s the second time that either Ohtani or a close associate has found themselves in hot water regarding questionable financial decisions. Back in 2024, his long-time interpreter Ippei Mizuhara was sentenced to 57 months for reportedly stealing funds from the superstar to fuel his gambling addiction. The interpreter reportedly posed as Ohtani to withdraw millions of dollars and bet on sports.
There were questions about how deep or whether the superstar was involved, including reports he directly wired money to cover the interpreter’s debts. Mizuhara quickly retracted that claim in an interview with ESPN, prompting widespread confusion and even some concern. With this new controversy, it’s guaranteed to thrust not only this back into light, but prompt some serious questions.
The new lawsuit, first reported by the AP, was filed in the Hawaii Circuit Court by developer Kevin J. Hayes Sr. and broker Tomoko Matsumoto. The two allege in the filing that Balelo made significant and increasing demands before asking Kingsbarn Realty Capital, a partner in the luxury housing development, to be dropped. Shohei Ohtani’s name appeared on investment materials and was highly touted in brochures online before the listings were removed, according to AP.
Hayes Sr. and Matusmoto both recruited Ohtani in 2023 to “create buzz within the Japanese luxury vacation home market,” per the suit.
It wasn’t until Balelo entered into the deal that the partnership began to sour, with the agent demanding significant concessions, according to AP. While it was not clear what demands were being made, the suit alleged Kingsbarn “began capitulating to Balelo’s every whim.” The two were fired in July for reasons not made public.
The suit claimed they joined the venture “solely for (Ohtani’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.” It further alleged that the case was about “abuse of power” and tortious interference.
Again, this suit marked the second time Ohtani found himself entangled in a close associate’s off-field doings.
In March of 2024, during MLB’s opening series in Korea, Ohtani’s long-time interpreter Ippei Mizuhara was fired. Reports surfaced from the Los Angeles Times and MLB that Mizuhara had stolen “millions of dollars” from the superstar to bet on sports and pay off gambling debt. It seemed pretty open-and-shut, until the twists kept coming.
Hours after ESPN began investigating the story following rumblings inside the MLB, a spokesperson for Ohtani confirmed at the time that the slugger paid Mizuhara’s debts in $500,000 increments. During a 90-minute ESPN interview, however, Mizuhara further elaborated on the story, saying that he had approached Ohtani for help after his debts soared.
It got stranger when Ohtani’s spokesperson then accused Mizuhara of lying, then said the interpreter was doing all the communication between Ohtani and his agent. ESPN demanded the spokesperson go on the record, to which the slugger’s lawyers say he was “the victim of a massive theft.” Then, not even 24 hours following his interview, Mizuhara walked everything back.
Mizuhara, in calls released in January 2025, appeared to be calling Ohtani’s bank posing as the superstar to approve a $200,000 wire transfer. He was sentenced to 57 months in prison for bank and tax fraud charges.
The sudden bombshell and numerous twists in the initial story prompted a tidal wave of conversation. Fans and pundits were not only confused but skeptical of the explanation. Even Pete Rose made a quip about the scandal, joking he might have gotten away with betting on baseball if he had an interpreter.
Shohei Ohtani spoke on Mar. 25, 2024, and vehemently denied any betting on sports. He stated that he had no knowledge of money being transferred from his account to pay debts and that he was “saddened” by the events. He added that he only learned about the gambling debt after the Dodgers game on March 20, the day the story broke.
As the season continued, the conversation died down, and fans seemed to move on. But with the new lawsuit, there are bound to be some questions about Ohtani’s acquaintances and, perhaps, his off-field activities as a whole.
The fact that this is the second time Ohtani finds himself under fire for the actions of someone close to him, this time his agent, raises serious questions about who he’s surrounded by. Everyone wants a little bit of the Ohtani gravy train, but he seems to be more susceptible to very dangerous, even outwardly criminalistic, actors.
Most people brushed off the Mizuhara gambling issue as a one-and-done event at the time. It seemed like a case of someone taking advantage of a friend’s fame and fortune for their pleasure. Regardless of what fans or pundits believe, on the surface level and despite the utter confusion in the first 24 hours of reporting, Mizuhara took advantage of Ohtani’s fame.
Now, with Balelo allegedly using Ohtani’s status to get a more lucrative deal, it’s concerning how deep this is becoming. This is the agent that has worked with Ohtani for eight years and helped him sign the most lucrative contract in MLB history at the time in 2023. He even reveled in the fact that he pulled off one of the most daring moves by deferring almost everything to the end of the contract.
Yes, Ohtani is surrounded by bad actors. It could be a question of “who’s next,” rather than “what if.” But, there’s another question.
There have been some questions about whether Ohtani is betting on baseball or using his status to get what he wants. It’s casting an ugly shadow over his legacy and is painting him as the new villain of baseball. Fans must be careful to throw those allegations around. While the confusing details and coincidences are food for thought, there’s no concrete evidence that we know of suggesting he is a “true” villain.
However, he runs the risk of tarnishing his legacy if he continuously ends up in these situations. If associates continue finding themselves on the receiving end of legal disputes, criminal investigations, or betting allegations, then it might be time to fear the worst.
Whether you love him or hate him, Ohtani is a tremendous and generational player. He alone has brought eyes to the sport, both for good and bad. It’s even been the catalyst for arguments on why he hasn’t been investigated or that the MLB is “covering up” his true activities.
Could Ohtani be leveraging his fame to get deals or manipulate endorsements? There’s an argument for it. Could he be betting on baseball? Given others have gone down for it recently, it’s entirely possible.
But, playing Devil’s advocate, if it was all the work of his associated 100%, he needs to clean house. Get trusted and ethical partners. If not, his career will join the hall of the asterisk.
If you enjoyed this article, subscribe to our newsletter here. Check out Stadium Rant Original shows on our Youtube channel and subscribe! Give our socials Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok a follow for more great content!
