Fernando Tatis Jr. has suffered a major setback in a years-long legal battle that could ultimately cost him tens of millions of dollars.

A judge in San Diego dismissed Tatis Jr.’s lawsuit against Big League Advance, a firm that provides financial backing to minor league baseball players in exchange for a percentage of their future earnings. The ruling means the San Diego Padres superstar remains bound by a contract he signed in 2017 when he was just 18 years old.

Under that agreement, Tatis received $2 million upfront in exchange for 10 percent of his future professional baseball earnings. At the time, he was still a prospect working his way through the minor leagues. Four years later, he signed a massive 14-year, $340 million contract with the Padres, turning the deal into one of the most lucrative investments in sports finance history.

Tatis argued that Big League Advance used predatory tactics and misrepresented the long-term consequences of the agreement while emphasizing immediate financial help for him and his family. However, the court rejected those claims, ordering Tatis to immediately pay approximately $3.2 million owed under the agreement, along with roughly $240,000 in legal fees. His legal team has indicated they plan to appeal the ruling.

The long-term financial impact could be substantial. Ten percent of Tatis’s current contract alone equals approximately $34 million, and any future MLB contracts he signs could also be subject to the agreement.

Big League Advance currently has agreements with more than 700 professional baseball players and has worked with notable stars including Elly De La Cruz, Jazz Chisholm Jr., Julio Rodríguez, and several other current MLB players.