Athletics third baseman Zack Gelof has sued the Detroit Tigers, Ilitch Holdings Inc., and the Detroit-Wayne County Stadium Authority, alleging he suffered a serious knee injury after striking exposed metal fencing at Comerica Park during a July game.
The lawsuit, filed Monday (Sept. 28) in Wayne County Circuit Court by Detroit-based Marko Law, alleges Gelof was making a sliding catch in the third inning of the July 9 game between the Athletics and Tigers inside Comerica Park when his right knee struck exposed metal fencing along the left-field foul line.
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According to the complaint, the impact tore Gelof’s uniform and caused a deep laceration beneath his right kneecap that narrowly missed his patellar tendon.
Gelof was unable to continue playing and missed about 30 days of professional baseball, the lawsuit says.
The complaint alleges the fencing was rigid, sharp, inadequately protected, and positioned where the defendants knew or should have known players would run and slide while attempting to make plays.
The lawsuit also alleges the defendants failed to provide sufficient padding or clearance, inspect and identify the hazard, or otherwise repair, redesign, relocate, or guard the fencing.
Attorneys for Gelof allege that protective padding was installed over the area within weeks of the injury.
The complaint includes a photograph purporting to show the padding in place during a Tigers game in August.
The lawsuit cites comments allegedly made by Tigers outfielder Riley Greene after the incident, acknowledging that the area along the wall was made of metal and could be unforgiving during a hard slide.
Gelof, 26, is listed in the lawsuit as a professional MLB player for the Athletics whose primary residence is in West Palm Beach, Florida.
The complaint alleges Gelof suffered physical pain, medical expenses, lost wages and economic losses, as well as professional and emotional damages.
It seeks compensation for those damages, along with attorney fees, costs, and other relief allowed under Michigan law.
The lawsuit includes claims for premises liability, negligence, negligent design and construction of a recreational attraction, and a claim under Michigan’s public-building exception to governmental immunity against the Detroit-Wayne County Stadium Authority.
The complaint alleges the Stadium Authority owns and/or controls Comerica Park, while the Tigers and Ilitch Holdings operate, manage and maintain the stadium.
Attorney Jon Marko said basic protective padding could have prevented the injury.
“It doesn’t take a stadium design expert to realize that sharp metal fencing in an area where players are required to slide and play around is a recipe for disaster like the one that occurred here,” Marko said in a statement included with the lawsuit. “All they had to do was put cheap padding up like they did after Zack was injured, and this entire incident could have been avoided.”
