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os Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani and his agent Nez Balelo are facing a lawsuit from real estate investor Kevin J. Hayes Sr. and broker Tomoko Matsumoto, who claim they were unfairly pushed out of a $240 million project in Hawaii. According to the Associated Press, Hayes and Matsumoto filed the suit in Hawaii Circuit Court on Friday, alleging that Ohtani's increasing demands led to their termination from The Vista at Mauna Kea Resort.

    Ohtani had signed an endorsement deal with the project in 2023, agreeing to act as a spokesperson and own one of the properties. Developers hoped his involvement would attract Japanese luxury buyers, but Hayes and Matsumoto claim Balelo's behavior became increasingly erratic after signing the deal. They accuse Balelo of making threats and baseless claims to push them out.

    The lawsuit alleges that Kingsbarn Realty Capital, a partner in the project, caved to Balelo's demands, eventually leading to Hayes and Matsumoto being fired. The suit claims Kingsbarn admitted that Balelo had demanded their termination solely to placate him, resulting in millions of dollars in lost compensation for Hayes and Matsumoto.

    Ohtani's involvement with the project was seen as a major draw, given his status as one of baseball's top players after joining the Los Angeles Angels in 2018. He signed a record-breaking 10-year, $700 million deal with the Dodgers in 2023, helping lead the team to a World Series title in his first season.