An independent minor league baseball team in California is being sued for at least $350,000 over allegations that stray baseballs from its stadium are damaging a nearby commercial property.
Ajor Property Group, which owns a building directly across the street from Raimondi Park in West Oakland, filed the lawsuit in Alameda County against the Oakland Ballers and the city of Oakland. The plaintiff alleges that both the city and the team failed to act quickly enough to prevent baseballs from shattering windows, denting the roof and causing other structural damage to the property on 20th Street, SFGate reported.
The lawsuit further claims that the team did not raise the left-field netting to the maximum 50-foot height permitted under their agreement with the city, and failed to honor agreements to pay for damages.
Raimondi Park has been used for baseball for over a century, but the lawsuit contends that no baseball-related damage occurred when the field was limited to youth and recreational sports.
The situation changed when the Ballers, members of the independent Pioneer League, started in 2024 and invested $1.6 million to upgrade the venue following the departure of Major League Baseball’s Oakland Athletics. The stadium’s left-field fence sits 312 feet from home plate, a distance easily cleared by professional hitters.
Ballers co-owner Paul Freedman addressed the lawsuit, stating that the team did not dispute that balls were hitting the building but required proof that the damage was caused by their games or practices before paying.
“We’ve been trying to get people to viscerally understand that Oakland has its challenges,” Freedman told the publication. “There’s a lot of people in the Bay Area, like, why is it so hard to get some things done in Oakland? I think this story, you know, tells a lot about that.”
Freedman said that the Ballers had previously paid $1,500 to replace a window after being shown video evidence, but alleged that the property owner later demanded $500 just to view footage of a subsequent incident. He also pointed out that raising the netting to 50 feet would require municipal height ordinance variances that could set a problematic precedent for the area.
According to email correspondence included in the legal filing, the dispute also involves “lost solar energy generation.”
The plaintiff claims the risk of flying baseballs has delayed the installation of solar panels. Freedman expressed skepticism over the claim, noting that he had previously advised the owner on grid challenges and roof positioning in the neighborhood.
The building is owned by Hassan Najafi, who previously operated Supreme Glass Company out of the location before selling the business last year.
When contacted by reporters, Najafi declined to comment on the record and directed profanities at journalists, SFGate reported. His attorney, Robert Jweinat, confirmed the legal action but declined to answer specific questions regarding the merits of the case.
The lawsuit comes as the Ballers experience growth, with average attendance rising to more than 2,200 fans per game during their 2026 season. The team is currently in the second year of a 10-year lease at the park.
Freedman stated that the team had no intention of settling the lawsuit and was preparing a formal response, warning that a major financial judgment could harm the franchise.
He told the outlet that the organization was aiming to break even this year and did not have an extra $350,000 available.
The Independent has contacted the city of Oakland, the Oakland Ballers and Najafi’s attorney for comment.
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