Fernando Tatis Jr. Sues Big League Advance for Abusive Practices
The stellar Dominican player for the San Diego Padres, Fernando Tatis Jr., has taken legal action against the financial firm Big League Advance (BLA). Tatis Jr. accuses the company of employing business practices detrimental to young baseball players. The lawsuit, based on California consumer protection laws, seeks to void an agreement signed by Tatis Jr. when he was still a prospect. In that agreement, the player received US$2 million in exchange for a portion of his future earnings. The complaint, filed with the California Superior Court in San Diego, states that BLA operates under a “predatory” model. The company is accused of taking advantage of the vulnerable economic situation of young athletes, many of whom come from Latin America. After signing a 14-year, US$340 million contract with the Padres in 2021, the agreement with BLA would obligate Tatis Jr. to pay approximately US$34 million to the company.The lawsuit also seeks a court order to prohibit these types of agreements in the state of California. Tatis Jr. becomes the most prominent figure to publicly denounce BLA, a company that claims to have signed similar agreements with more than 700 developing players.“I am fighting this battle not only for myself, but for everyone who still pursues their dreams. Young people must focus on baseball, not on dodging shady deals,” Tatis expressed in a statement.
Fernando Tatis Jr.
