San Diego Padres outfielder Fernando Tatis Jr. filed a lawsuit Monday in the Superior Court of California, San Diego County, targeting Big League Advance Fund and Big League Advantage. The complaint alleges that the company operates as an unlicensed lender and issues loans that violate California’s lending laws. The focus of the legal action is to challenge what Tatis and his team describe as predatory financial practices aimed at young baseball players.
Details of the Lawsuit and Financial Agreement
Big League Advance, known as BLA, provides upfront payments to selected minor league players in exchange for a percentage of their future Major League Baseball earnings. At 19 years old, Tatis accepted $2 million from BLA. Following his 2021 signing of a 14-year contract worth $340 million with the Padres, BLA claims that Tatis owes 10% of that total, amounting to $34 million. Although Tatis has repaid an undisclosed portion, the remaining sum extends across the contract’s entire duration.
Support from Political Figures and Public Enforcements Sought
Former California State Senator Robert Hertzberg, part of the group backing Tatis in the case, stated that the lawsuit pursues injunctive relief to stop BLA’s unlawful practices. Hertzberg emphasized California’s existing protections against predatory financial activities, criticizing BLA for disregarding these laws:
California lawmakers have put in place serious, straightforward protections against predatory financial activity, but BLA has still disregarded our laws to pursue a business model built on prohibited, deceptive and abusive practices,
—Robert Hertzberg, Former California State Senator
Tatis’ Motivation and View on Protecting Young Athletes
Fernando Tatis Jr. expressed that his legal fight is not only for his own benefit but for the broader community of aspiring players vulnerable to exploitative financial deals. He highlighted the need to shield young players from such risks so they can focus solely on baseball:
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. 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 — kids’ focus should be on their passion for baseball, not dodging shady business deals,
—Fernando Tatis Jr.
Potential Outcomes and Industry Implications
If successful, Tatis’ legal challenge could void his contract with BLA and issue a ban on the company’s conduct in California regarding other athletes, potentially canceling similar existing agreements. Hertzberg described Tatis’ efforts as courageous for seeking broad protections beyond his personal case:
Fernando Tatis Jr. is being a hero in my judgment by not just going out and saying, ‘I want to break my contract and care about the money.’ But he’s out there and says, ‘I want a public injunctive relief action to stop them from doing this to others and to void other people’s contracts,’ so he’s being a hero,
—Robert Hertzberg, Former California State Senator
Background on Big League Advance and Previous Warnings
Big League Advance was founded in 2016 by Michael Schwimer, a former MLB pitcher. The company claims to have invested over $190 million in more than 700 athletes through partnership deals. However, the Major League Baseball Players’ Association warned agents in a January 2016 memo against endorsing BLA’s model, noting the substantial proportions of future earnings the company seeks from players. In 2018, Tatis himself had remarked that giving away money upfront might seem negligible compared to the prospects of a successful career:
If I’m a successful player and make big money, I’m not going to care about giving that money away. That will be nothing if I make all that big money.
—Fernando Tatis Jr.
Next Steps and Industry Attention
The lawsuit now awaits a formal response from Big League Advance, which could spark further legal debate. The case highlights ongoing concerns in professional sports about financial arrangements that, while presented as helpful, may place young athletes at significant long-term financial risk. How this lawsuit unfolds could influence future practices within baseball and potentially other sports leagues.