Athletics third baseman Zack Gelof has filed a lawsuit against the Detroit Tigers, Ilitch Holdings Inc., and the Detroit-Wayne County Stadium Authority, alleging he sustained a serious knee injury due to exposed metal fencing at Comerica Park. The lawsuit, filed Monday, September 28, in Wayne County Circuit Court, claims the incident occurred during a July 9 game between the Athletics and the Tigers, seeking compensation for alleged damages.
According to the complaint, Gelof was engaged in making a sliding catch during the third inning when his right knee struck metal fencing along the left-field foul line. The impact, the lawsuit states, tore Gelof’s uniform and resulted in a deep laceration beneath his right kneecap, which narrowly missed his patellar tendon. The injury rendered Gelof unable to continue playing, and he subsequently missed approximately 30 days of professional baseball.
The complaint alleges that the fencing in question was rigid, sharp, and inadequately protected. It was also positioned in an area where the defendants purportedly knew or should have known that players would run and slide while attempting to make plays. Gelof’s attorneys contend that the defendants failed to provide sufficient padding or clearance, did not inspect and identify the hazard, and neglected to repair, redesign, relocate, or guard the fencing properly.
Attorneys for Gelof further allege that protective padding was installed over the specific area within weeks of the injury, with the complaint including a photograph purporting to show the padding in place during a Tigers game in August. The lawsuit also references comments allegedly made by Tigers outfielder Riley Greene after the incident, where Greene reportedly acknowledged that the area along the wall was made of metal and could be unforgiving during a hard slide.
Gelof, listed as a 26-year-old professional MLB player for the Athletics with a primary residence in West Palm Beach, Florida, alleges in the complaint that he suffered physical pain, incurred medical expenses, and experienced lost wages and other economic losses. The lawsuit also claims professional and emotional damages. It seeks compensation for these damages, along with attorney fees, costs, and other relief permitted under Michigan law.
The legal claims outlined in the lawsuit include premises liability, negligence, and negligent design and construction of a recreational attraction. Additionally, a claim has been filed against the Detroit-Wayne County Stadium Authority under Michigan’s public-building exception to governmental immunity. The complaint specifies that the Stadium Authority allegedly owns and/or controls Comerica Park, while the Detroit Tigers and Ilitch Holdings operate, manage, and maintain the stadium.
Attorney Jon Marko, whose firm Detroit-based Marko Law filed the suit, emphasized that basic protective padding could have prevented the injury. In a statement included with the lawsuit, Marko remarked that “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.” He added that the incident could have been avoided if “cheap padding” had been installed, similar to what was reportedly put in place after Gelof’s injury.