With great power comes great responsibility, and few in baseball carry as much of both as Shohei Ohtani. The two-way sensation has been the face of MLB’s global reach, dazzling fans with his rare combination of elite pitching and jaw-dropping power at the plate. But for all his brilliance between the lines, Ohtani’s off-field headlines have occasionally threatened to overshadow his feats. Well, just last year, his career stood on the brink when a betting scandal exploded into public view. While initial whispers hinted at his involvement, the investigation ultimately revealed his then-manager was the culprit.
Now, unsettlingly, Ohtani finds himself in choppy waters again. And once more, his manager is at the center of it.
The timing couldn’t be worse. The Dodgers are gearing up for a postseason push, Ohtani is in scorching form on both sides of the ball, and yet distractions loom large. So, one MLB insider has stepped forward with a piece of pointed advice for the superstar. A suggestion aimed at helping him steer clear of these recurring embarrassments in the future.
“I don’t know, man, this is just such a weird story, and why, why is he involved? Why is he? Does he need more money than what he’s got? Maybe, but it just sounds like he’s getting bad advice from somebody… We can say whatever we want, but guys lose money, make bad investments, and make bad decisions. It happens all the time. Be happy with what you got. Don’t chase 200 million, 500 million. If you got 100, try to keep your 100, let that grow, and then work on that. But be happy with what you have,” MLB insider A.J Pierzynski is vocal about Ohtani being more aware of making the choices.
“Be happy with what you’ve got.”
Shohei Ohtani doesn’t need to say yes to every notable endorsement opportunity, says @AJPierzynski12. pic.twitter.com/ibPxOvUdZn
— Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) August 12, 2025
Well, Shohei Ohtani and his agent, Nez Balelo, are being accused in a new Hawaii state lawsuit. Why? Because of the delay of a luxury housing project, and cost two developers millions. Investor Kevin Hayes and broker Tomoko Matsumoto claim the Dodgers star and his agent ran an “unlawful scheme.” They push them out of plans for a high-end residential development at the Mauna Kea Resort. According to the complaint, filed on Friday in the First Circuit Court, Ohtani and Balelo allegedly pressured other investors to sever ties with Hayes and Matsumoto, leading to what the pair claims was a wrongful and baseless termination from the project.
According to Pierzynski, it’s still too early to know the full truth about this whole situation. And it’s possible Ohtani’s name is just being used to grab attention. Still, getting caught up in a $240 million project lawsuit is no small matter, and Pierzynski sees it as a sign of poor investment judgment on Ohtani’s part.
He pointed out that with a $700 million deal already in place, Ohtani doesn’t need to jump at every opportunity that comes his way. Moreover, Ohtani should be more selective about what he gets involved in. Or he risks encountering more problems like this, which could damage his reputation. And with Ohtani currently in great form on the field, distractions like this lawsuit could end up pulling his focus at the worst possible time.
The most challenging time prevails for Shohei Ohtani
Well, since 2019, the Angels had been dominated by their rivals, the Dodgers, going just 5-23 over that stretch. But 2025 has been a completely different story. On Monday night, the Angels beat the Dodgers for the fourth straight time, securing their first season series win over the Dodgers since 2019. And guess what, this win moved them to 57-62, keeping their postseason hopes alive, though they still face a steep climb in the AL Wild Card race.
However, for the Dodgers, the loss tightened things up in the NL West, with their lead over the Padres shrinking to just one game.
Meanwhile, Shohei Ohtani continues to make noise. And not just because of the ongoing lawsuit hanging over his name. On the field, he’s inching closer to baseball history. With 96 HRs so far in his first two seasons with the Dodgers (2024 and 2025), Ohtani is within striking distance of Roger Maris’ total of 100 during his first two seasons with the Yankees.
However, the lawsuit’s details aren’t exactly flattering for the two-way superstar. While commentator David Samson believes the timing may just be a coincidence, the reality is that Shohei Ohtani is now juggling increasing off-field controversies alongside the pressure of maintaining his on-field dominance.
And just as he’s performing at a high level for the Dodgers, these distractions could risk pulling focus away from the game, something that could have ripple effects as the season heads into its most crucial stretch.
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