An unpadded metal fence at the Detroit Tigers’ stadium caused Athletics outfielder Zack Gelof serious injury and put him out of commission for more than a month, he alleged in a new lawsuit.
Gelof alleged claims for premises liability, negligence, and negligent design under Michigan state law, saying the team, its ownership, and the stadium authority breached their duty to maintain Comerica Park in a reasonably safe condition, according to the lawsuit filed Monday in the Michigan Circuit Court for Wayne County.
At a July 9 game, Gelof made a sliding catch along the left-field foul line. He slammed his right knee into an exposed metal fence on the side wall, tearing his uniform and cutting deeply beneath his kneecap, resulting in an injury that caused him to miss roughly 30 games.
The fence was “rigid, sharp, inadequately protected, and positioned where” the defendants knew or should have known that a player would run, slide, and try to catch a baseball, the complaint said.
Tigers left fielder Riley Greene told reporters after the game that the wall is made of metal and “can be quite unforgiving during a hard slide,” the complaint said. Additionally, the defendants’ addition of padding to the area after Gelof’s injury also demonstrated that they knew about the fence’s hazardous condition and their ability to easily fix it.
The Detroit-Wayne County Stadium Authority is liable under a Michigan law that allows injury claims against government agencies for dangerous conditions in public buildings, the complaint said.
The complaint doesn’t specify a dollar amount but seeks full compensation for his injuries, lost wages, medical expenses, exemplary damages, and attorneys’ fees.
The Tigers didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
Marko Law PLLC represents Gelof.
The case is Gelof v. Detroit Tigers, Inc., Mich. Cir. Ct., No. 26-016999, complaint filed 9/28/26.