May 11, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; San Diego Padres right fielder Fernando Tatis Jr. (23) in the dugout in the eighth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
San Diego, California – San Diego Padres star Fernando Tatis Jr. has filed a lawsuit against Big League Advance (BLA), a controversial sports investment firm, in an attempt to void a contract he signed as a teenager that could cost him tens of millions of dollars.
The suit, filed Monday in San Diego County Superior Court, claims that BLA used deceptive and predatory practices to push a so-called “investment deal” on Tatis when he was just 17 years old and still in the minor leagues. The agreement granted Tatis a $2 million payment in exchange for 10% of his future baseball earnings — a deal that could now cost him upwards of $34 million following the 14-year, $340 million contract he signed with the Padres in 2021.
Tatis, now 25, alleges the agreement was essentially an illegal loan masked as an investment, in violation of California’s consumer protection laws. His legal team argues that BLA misrepresented itself, concealed its unlicensed status, and imposed terms not permitted under state law. Although the deal was signed in the Dominican Republic, Tatis’s lawyers say California statutes still apply.
The lawsuit also seeks broader injunctive relief that could prevent BLA and similar companies from targeting other young athletes with similar arrangements.
BLA, founded by former MLB pitcher Michael Schwimer, offers money to young players in exchange for a percentage of their future income — a model that critics say exploits vulnerable prospects who lack financial security or legal guidance. Players who never make it to the majors keep the upfront cash, but those who succeed may end up paying millions.
Tatis is the highest-profile player to challenge BLA’s practices publicly, but he’s not the only one locked in legal conflict with the firm. Just last week, BLA sued former Padres outfielder Franmil Reyes in Delaware, seeking over $700,000 in payments and interest, plus additional income from his time playing in Japan.
Tatis, who debuted with the Padres in 2019, has become one of the most recognizable faces in baseball. His career has included All-Star appearances and a major position change from shortstop to right field, though he also served an 80-game suspension for performance-enhancing drugs in 2022.
The case now adds a high-stakes legal battle to Tatis’s already high-profile career — one that could not only reshape his finances but also set a precedent for how young athletes are protected from aggressive financial contracts in the future.
