San Diego Padres star Fernando Tatis Jr.’s lawsuit against a talent prospector who fronted the then-18-year-old prospect $2 million in exchange for paying the firm 10 percent of his future earnings has been dismissed.
The star baseball player must now pay millions more to the firm, as well as attorney’s fees.
In a May 21 tentative ruling, a San Diego Superior Court ruled the contract Tatis Jr. signed in 2017 stands, as does a May 2025 arbitrator’s decision that the San Diego Padres right fielder must pay the firm, Big League Advance Fund, the $3.2 million he owed the firm at the time of his lawsuit, plus $240,515 in attorney’s fees.
The ruling, made final at a Friday, May 22, hearing, now officially ends Tatis Jr’s bid to unwind the contract.
In June of 2025, Tatis Jr. sued Big League Advance Fund, alleging the firm’s CEO preyed on him when he was a teenager in the Dominican Republic in 2017, and convinced him to sign over 10% of all future earnings in exchange for an up-front payment of $2 million. In 2021, Tatis Jr. signed a 14-year, $340 million contract with the Padres.
In his lawsuit, Tatis claimed the contract violated California’s consumer protection laws, asking a judge to claw back the deal.
“Defendants have built a business model that preys on young, financially unsophisticated athletes, offering lump-sum advances in exchange for significant portions of their future earnings,” read Tatis Jr.’s June 2025 lawsuit.
“[Tatis Jr.], an 18-year-old minor league baseball player in 2017, was targeted by Defendants and ensnared by their predatory tactics. Lured by promises of immediate payment, [Tatis Jr.] was fraudulently induced to sign an income share agreement through material misrepresentations and omissions.”
In a statement after he filed the lawsuit, the star outfielder outlined his reasoning.
“I’m fighting this battle not just for myself but for everyone still chasing their dream and hoping to provide a better life for their family,” he said. “I want to help protect those young players who don’t yet know how to protect themselves from these predatory lenders and illegal financial schemes — baseball should be about our passion for the game, not dodging shady businesses driven only by profit and greed.”
Former Major League Baseball player Michael Schwimer, wined and dined Tatis. Jr. when he was 18 years old, according to the lawsuit.
“Michael Schwimer, CEO of BLA, took Plaintiff to dinner with multiple other parties associated with BLA. The dinner took place at a restaurant, creating an informal setting that contrasted with the significant financial commitment being proposed. During the dinner, Schwimer and the BLA representatives focused primarily on the promise of providing [Tatis Jr.] with quick access to a large sum of money. They did not discuss the nature of BLA’s business, the legal implications of the proposed agreement, or the fact that BLA and BLA FUND I were not licensed as finance lenders in California or any other jurisdiction.”
Tatis Jr. filed his lawsuit a month after the two sides met in arbitration overseen by retired New York State Judge Anthony J. Carpinello. Carpinello found the contract was valid and Tatis Jr. was responsible for living up to his side of it. Carpinello ruled that Tatis Jr. was responsible for paying a past due amount of $3.2 million plus attorney’s fees. Tatis Jr. then filed a lawsuit seeking to vacate Carpinello’s ruling.
During the May 22 hearing, Tatis Jr.’s attorneys argued against the dismissal of the case and said San Diego Superior Court Judge Judy S. Bae failed to look at the operations of Big League Advance Fund, and what they said was an unlicensed and illegal contract.
Attorneys for Big League Advance Fund said Tatis Jr. agreed to arbitration and failed to raise any objections over the legality of the contract.
Judge Bae agreed and rejected Tatis Jr.’s legal argument and found the arbitrator’s decision was legally sound.
Tatis Jr. and his attorney said while dismissing the petition, the judge confirmed that the contract advance should be considered a loan, which opens the door for future legal challenges.
“This case has always been about protecting the next generation of players from illegal financial schemes, and we just took a big step toward that goal. I’m looking forward to this process finally eliminating the predatory practices of companies like BLA, and until then my focus will remain squarely on the field with my teammates as we work to bring a World Series title to San Diego,” said Tatis Jr. in a statement.
“This is the central legal issue in the case and directly supports Fernando’s position that [Big League Advance], operating as an unlicensed lender, issued illegal loans that are void under California’s consumer protection statutes. Based on these affirmed facts, Fernando’s legal team is very confident the courts will rule in his favor as this case progresses,” reads a statement from Tatis Jr.’s attorney Cade Cipriano.
Tatis Jr.’s legal team said they plan to appeal the ruling.
Editor’s Note: This article was updated to include a statement from Tatis Jr. and his attorney.
