Oakland Athletics outfielder Zack Gelof has filed a lawsuit against the Detroit Tigers, Ilitch Holdings and the Detroit-Wayne County Stadium Authority, claiming a metal fence at Comerica Park caused a severe knee injury that sidelined him for more than a month last season.
The suit, filed over the July 9 incident, seeks compensation for pain and suffering, lost wages, medical bills, mental distress and attorney fees. It does not specify a dollar amount.
"We are aware of the lawsuit and do not comment on pending litigation," the Tigers said in a statement Tuesday.
Gelof, 26, was hurt in the third inning of a 4-1 loss to Detroit while making a sliding catch in foul territory. His right knee slammed into the fence along the side wall. He grabbed his knee immediately, and a tear in his uniform pants marked where his leg hit the metal.
The complaint alleges the fence was "rigid, sharp, inadequately protected" and "protruded into or alongside the playing area." Gelof suffered a deep cut under his right kneecap that narrowly missed his tendon. He did not return to the field until Aug. 10, missing 30 games.
The Tigers installed padding on that section of fencing shortly after the injury.
"This injury could have easily [been] prevented through the most basic and inexpensive design," said Gelof's attorney, Jon Marko. "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."
The case puts a spotlight on player safety standards at major league ballparks, where walls and fences sit inches from live play. Outfielders routinely crash into those surfaces at full speed, and injuries from exposed metal or concrete have drawn scrutiny in the past.
Gelof was a second-round pick by Oakland in 2021 and made his MLB debut in 2023. He has played mostly second base and the outfield for the A's, who are set to move to Sacramento for the 2025 season before a planned relocation to Las Vegas.
The lawsuit names Ilitch Holdings, the Tigers' parent company, and the Detroit-Wayne County Stadium Authority, the public body that oversees Comerica Park, which opened in 2000.
It was not immediately clear when the case will go before a judge.
