Former MLB star Darin Ruf has filed a lawsuit against the Cincinnati Reds over a career-ending knee injury he suffered at the Great American Ball Park.
Ruf damaged his knee crashing into a tarp roller near first base during a game for the Milwaukee Brewers in June 2023.
He was initially placed on the 60-day injured list but has not played an MLB game since. On Thursday, Ruf filed a lawsuit in the Hamilton County (Ohio) Court of Common Pleas.
It charges the Reds with negligence in failing to maintain safe field conditions, specifically citing the presence of the unpadded metal tarp roller.
‘This didn’t need to happen,’ Ruf said in a statement. ‘I wish it didn’t happen. Players shouldn´t have to worry about hidden hazards like that on a major league field.’
Ruf was playing first base for Milwaukee when he was injured during the third inning of the Brewers´ 5-4, 11-inning victory over the Reds on June 2, 2023. In the third inning, Ruf was chasing a foul pop when his knee hit the end of the tarp roller.
Former Milwaukee Brewers player Darin Ruf is suing the Cincinnati Reds, claiming “unsafe field conditions” at Great American Ball Park caused a career-ending leg injury on this play in 2023. Lawsuit seeks damages for negligence.
— Chatterbox Sports (@CBoxSports) May 22, 2025 
Darin Ruf has filed a lawsuit against the Cincinnati Reds over a career-ending knee injury
‘This didn´t need to happen… I wish it didn´t happen,’ the 38-year-old said in a statement
According to the complaint, Ruf suffered ‘permanent and substantial deformities to his knee.’ It says the end of the tarp roller was made of sharp metal and had no protective cushioning or cap.
‘This was an obvious and avoidable risk,’ Ruf’s attorney, Tad Thomas, said. There are basic safety protocols every MLB team should follow. Leaving an unpadded metal roller on the edge of the field is inexcusable.’
Ruf, 38, began his nine-year career with the Philadelphia Phillies, playing five seasons before moving on to the San Francisco Giants and New York Mets. He joined the Brewers in May 2023, playing in 11 games before the knee injury.
In 581 games, Ruf hit .239 with 67 homers and 205 RBIs.
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Cincinnati Reds sued by former MLB star Darin Ruf over career-ending injury: ‘This didn’t need to happen’